Profiteering: In seasonal tradition, traders hike food prices

Shoppers complain of ineffective price control committee

MUZAFFARABAD: The prices of essential commodities have soared in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), just two days ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

During the last three days of Ramazan, shopping for Eid-ul Fitr gained momentum and unscrupulous traders took the opportunity to squeeze their customers.

In Muzaffarabad, the prices of vegetables and meat are at least Rs10 to Rs20 above the rates issued by the Price Control Committee (PCC).

Meanwhile, tomatoes, which were priced at Rs 40 per kilogram by the PCC, are being sold at Rs120, while spinach, priced at Rs20 per kg for the entire month, is now being sold at Rs50.

PCC staffers are rarely seen monitoring markets, while meats are selling for Rs20 to Rs30 more than the PCC rates.

“The rates  of fruits have also gone up....it is now routine for traders to loot the public during the last days of Ramazan,” said shopper Akhlaq Kashur.

The rates of other staple vegetables including onions, garlic, and ginger have increased by 40 to 50 per cent.

Mangoes are being sold at Rs250 against the Ramazan rate of Rs230 per kilogram. Apples are being sold at Rs240 kilogram against the PCC rate of Rs220. A dozen bananas are selling for Rs150 against the PCC rate of Rs120 and the grapes are being sold Rs260 per kg instead of Rs240.

Potatoes are being sold at Rs30 per kg, wheras the rate was Rs20 kilogram just three days back, and onions have gone up from Rs30 per kilogram to Rs40. Anger was visible on the faces of shoppers as they said the authorities have failed to control prices during the month and especially in the last few days.

“The difference in the rates in various markets shows that the administration has no interest to monitor the bazaars and vegetable stalls to give relief to citizens. The PCC teams should at least be monitoring [last minute price surges],” said another consumer Maria Iqbal Tarana.

Muzaffarabad Deputy Commissioner (DC)Masoodur Rehman said violators are being fined. “We have zero production in AJK and vegetables are being brought from Mansehra and Abbotabad. The PCC issues rate lists after consultations with Muzaffarabad traders and if anyone violates the agreed rates, we impose fines on them,” DC Rehman concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2016.