Shopkeepers hike up prices for returning Afghans

Locals say Afghans refugees are stockpiling food to take it across the border

PESHAWAR: There has been an abrupt spike in commodity prices over the last few days as Afghan refugees returning home are taking various food items across the border.

The price of commodities, including pulses, increased by 40% against the rates fixed by the Peshawar district administration, while sugar and ghee prices also jumped up by Rs10 and Rs5 per kilogramme, respectively. A local revealed these rates to The Express Tribune, adding that there are no checks and balances by the district administration. Some claim prices have been increased due to repatriating Afghans taking food back to their home country.



Attaullah, a resident of Gulberg, told The Express Tribune that shopkeepers are selling chickpeas at Rs200 per kilogramme instead of the set price of Rs160. The price of sugar has increased from Rs62 per kilogramme to Rs72, while daal mash has gone from Rs250 to Rs270.”



Furthermore, shopkeepers have not displayed the price list issued by the district administration. Locals urged the administration to take strict action against profiteers. The district administration often conducts raids at various markets to ensure official prices, but have failed to find a permanent solution.



Salman Khan, another local, said, “The administration fines the profiteers a few thousand rupees, which they happily pay and continue selling products at unacceptable rates.” He said there should be a permanent solution to the matter so that the consumers don’t suffer from unwarranted price hikes.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2016.