The government needs to set up a control and regulation body that monitors the supply and demand for essential goods
ISLAMABAD: No matter how much the international media and authorities concerned have reiterated about not stocking up on items during this crisis situation, not many have listened. The nationwide race to contain the spread of Covid-19 is causing consumers to hoard up essential supplies. While major suppliers are being sealed for the inability to follow social distancing protocols, people have turned to smaller shops that have less supplies and tend to buy as much as they can. The result is that others suffer. Basic essentials such as eggs and bread have disappeared from the shelves of these small retail shops. Sanitary equipment such as Dettol and sanitisers are also at an all-time low across various retailers. Even online it has gotten so bad that Amazon is constantly monitoring and removing third-party sellers who are inflating hand sanitiser prices.
Furthermore, retailers have said that all shipments of non-essential products to warehouses will be halted in an effort to keep up with demand for important categories like household staples, pet food, and medical supplies. As a result, store owners have increased the prices of these basic essentials, and now owing to the month of Ramazan prices have again skyrocketed. The government needs to set up a control and regulation body that monitors the supply and demand for essential goods so that everyone is able to afford them.
Mahnoor Tanvir
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2020.
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