According to the PBS, the inflation remained in double digits for the third month, though it fell to 5.7 pc in January this year. It is mainly driven by double-digit growth in food inflation in both urban and rural areas, reports Dawn News.

On a month-on-month basis, inflation increased by 0.1 pc mainly suggesting that pressure on prices is still there and no let-up will be seen in the coming month. Food as well as non-food items prices are still on the higher side, the newspaper reported.

The average Consumer Price Index (CPI) in 11 months — between July and May — eased from 10.94pc last year to 8.83pc this year. It was projected that inflation will remain between 7pc to 9pc next year, reported the Pakistani newspaper.