The HEC acting chairperson, Dr. Shaista Sohail, has drawn the VCs’ attention that VCs to promote Sattu and Lassi to help in the financial crisis opposing Pakistan
She asked them to take a “leadership role and think of innovative ways to provide relief to the lower-income groups and the economy as a whole”.
“I am sure that the honorable vice-chancellors will be able to innovatively explore many other avenues to create employment, reduce imports and ease the economic situation,” she added.
The chairperson’s suggested measure include:
- Reduction of fossil fuel imports and promotion of research in alternate energy as a substitute for imported fossil fuel in motorcycles, buses, trains, cars, etc.
- Reduction of edible oil imports and researching on local cooking oils and their marketing to replace the imported edible oils.
- Promotion of local tea plantations and also traditional drinks which are locally manufactured and healthy like lassi and sattu. This will increase employment and also produce income involved in manufacturing these drinks for the public. The expense of the import of tea would reduce our import bill.
Pakistan has been grappling with a widening current account deficit, depleting foreign exchange reserves, and a delay in the revival of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) loan agreement.
Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) have fallen to as little as $8.2 billion as of June 17, and the Pakistani rupee is at record lows against the US dollar.
VCs to promote Sattu and Lassi as mentioned by HEC, recently.
In light of the current financial crisis, Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal earlier this month asked fellow countrymen to cut down on chai consumption as part of the effort to reduce a rising import bill — but that suggestion was not welcomed.
HEC said that the promotion of local tea plantations and also traditional drinks which are locally manufactured and healthy like lassi and sattu.
This will increase employment and also produce income involved in manufacturing these drinks for the public. The expense of the import of tea would reduce our import bill.
