Pakistan ranks inflation, not Kashmir as the biggest problem: Survey

Pakistan has ranked the spiraling inflation and the rising unemployment as the biggest concern haunting the civilians, over the Kashmir issue. According to a survey conducted by Gallup International in all four provinces of the cash-strapped country, the crippled economy became the biggest local issue over Kashmir, despite the hues and cries of Pakistan establishment.

The study, which was published by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan on Tuesday, said 53% of respondents believe the country's economy, specifically increasing inflation, is the biggest problem facing the country. Worries of inflation are followed by unemployment (23%), corruption (4%) and water crisis (4%), the survey said.

While the Pakistan government has been striving to take the Kashmir conflict to the international platform, only 8% of the people surveyed voiced their concern over the issue.  The survey also mentions fears over political instability, power crisis, dengue outbreak among other issues. Gallup Pakistan said the survey's sample comprised men and women from across the four provinces -- Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh.

Despite Imran Khan's persistent efforts, the "Kashmir Hour" fell flat on its face with a lack of fervor to the Prime Minister's appeal. The "Kashmir hour" was announced on August 26, days after the abrogation of Article 370, wherein Imran Khan urged Pakistanis to showcase solidarity with Kashmiris by coming out of their houses, workplaces and schools every Friday and observe 30 minutes of "Kashmir hour." 

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Protests against Imran Khan

In contrast, there has been an uprising against the Imran Khan government. The procession on October 28 witnessed thousands of supporters of the religious political party who participated in the march demanding Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation and restoration of the ‘real democracy’ in Pakistan.

Addressing the mammoth anti-government Azadi March in Islamabad on Friday, Pakistan's Opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari lambasted Pakistan Imran Khan, the military establishment and said that the opposition would not bow before either the “selector” nor the “dictator."

Bhutto Zardari said, "We are not ready to bow before any selector or dictator. The hub of power is people and not the state.” He added, "All opposition parties have gathered at one platform to give a clear message to Prime Minister Khan that the time had come for him to step down". 

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