Analysis: Gas shortage exposes fragile South Asian economies to more pain – Reuters News Agency

Reuters proprietarily analyzes the economies of Pakistan and Bangladesh amidst a shortage of imported gas. With just over a month until peak Ramadan shopping season, the head of Pakistan’s retail industry body is pressing officials to relax orders that forced malls to shut by 8.30 p.m. to save energy. More than 40% of annual retail sales occur in the 30 days of the holy month, and malls are packed between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Fear in the retail sector highlights how a shortage of imported gas has cut power output and hit the economy in Pakistan, just as it reels from soaring inflation and a sliding currency.