By IRNA,
Islamabad : A recent poll shows that 32% of Pakistanis say they have reduced food consumption due to price hike in food items.
The Pakistani study was carried out by Pakistan Institute of Public Opinion, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International, among a sample of 1732 men and women in rural and urban areas of the country during 3 & 4 August 2008.
Around 56 per cent say that the rising cost of food, fuel and electricity, has affected them and their family ‘a great deal’.
Pakistan does only slightly better than India when it comes to reduced food consumption.
More Indians (34%) than Pakistanis (32%) say they have had to reduce food consumption as a result of current price hike.
But Indians are less dissatisfied with their government.
Fewer Indians (49%) than Pakistanis (70%) blame their government for dramatic hike in food prices.
Nearly two-thirds (60%) of people in a new 26 nation say they are feeling the burden of recent rises in the cost of food and energy.
The global poll shows that price hike in key food items has affected majorities in all countries of the world, whether rich or poor.
But, majorities or very high portion of population in poor countries have reduced food consumption.
That is not the case in rich countries.
Understandably, everyone seems affected, but reduction in food consumption is much more characteristic of poor than rich nations.
A large number of people in poor nations are feeling compelled to change their dietary patterns.
Majorities in all countries, rich or poor, blame their governments for the food crisis.
They express deep dissatisfaction with how their governments have handled this issue.