Cups of tea
(Picture: PA)People in Pakistan have been urged to drink less tea to help keep the country’s economy afloat.
Drinking less tea a day would bring down the cost of Pakistan’s high import bills, senior minister Ahsan Iqbal has claimed.
Everyone has been asked to cut their daily amount of cups of tea by one or two cups.
“I appeal to the nation to cut down the consumption of tea by one to two cups because we import tea on loan,” Mr Iqbal said, according to Pakistani media.
Pakistan is the world’s largest importer of tea.
The country bought more than $600m (£501m) worth of tea last year.
But his appeal went viral as many people doubted how cutting down on their daily allowance of tea could help resolve the serious financial problems in the country.
The senior minister also proposed business traders closing their market stalls at 8.30pm could save electricity and cut costs.
Pakistan’s foreign currency reserves remains in urgent need of funds and the government are under pressure to cut high import costs.
The import of non-essential luxury items was restricted by officials in Karachi in May.
