KARACHI:
The holy month of Ramazan symbolises blessings, guidance and a sense of community. Unfortunately though, many retailers and vendors have taken this month as an opportunity to double their profits and inflict more hardships on the already suffering masses. Dishonest retailers charge higher prices for smaller quantities of essential items such as fruits and vegetables. Public transporters have also raised fees. Resultantly, it has become extremely difficult to afford daily necessities.
Every Ramazan, we repeat the same elegy, only to fall on deaf ears each time. While the sellers of any sort have a field day and earn much more than normal profits, the authorities do nothing except playing a silent spectator. We do hear of official rate lists and of strict penalties in case of non-compliance with them, but the business goes as usual. If at all, the relevant officials are only active during the first few days, and then they too either give up or become complicit.
The small number of utility stores running across the country is unable to cater to the large number of people who depend upon them. The Ramazan package announced by the federal government has failed to make much of a difference. Amid all this, it is the poor masses who are the only sufferers. The situation this year is even more agonising for those belonging to lower and middle classes, given a double digit inflation rate and loss of Covid-induced unemployment.
Zamzam Shahid
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2022.
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