Food First, Development Projects Later Public
The lives of poor and low-income families have become increasingly difficult amid rising inflation and the growing cost of essential goods. Citizens say that while major development projects are important, their immediate priority is access to basic necessities, particularly affordable food.
For millions of families, the biggest challenge is managing household expenses with limited income. Rising prices of flour, sugar, pulses, vegetables, meat and other essential food items have severely affected the purchasing power of the middle and lower-income classes.
Citizens say they are struggling to manage food expenses along with electricity bills, children's education, healthcare and other essential costs.
According to inflation-hit citizens, when there is not enough food on the table, roads, bridges and other development projects become secondary concerns for ordinary people.
They argue that the true measure of a country's development should not be limited to roads, buildings and infrastructure, but should also include the quality of life of its people.
For a poor family, citizens say, the first step toward a better life is not a new road or a major infrastructure project, but having enough food to provide two respectable meals a day.
The public is demanding that policymakers prioritize measures to control inflation, increase employment opportunities and provide meaningful relief to low-income families.
The central question remains: What importance do development projects have for a person who cannot afford to put two meals a day on the table for his children?