KARACHI:
The flash floods unleashed by the incessant rains in Sindh and Balochistan disrupted the lives of many. People have lost their homes, livestock, and acres of crops have been destroyed. Most people are now living under open skies and awaiting humanitarian assistance to bring back some normalcy to their lives.
Unfortunately, some people have taken advantage of this distressful situation and raised the prices of essential items such as tents, rain safety nets, edible items, etc. The sudden price hikes have posed difficulties for those carrying out donation drives as they are unable to purchase items in bulk and provide them to everyone. Some retailers and wholesalers have created artificial shortages to force people to buy the items at higher rates. Price increases in petroleum products will further hamper relief efforts because people will struggle to allocate their funds effectively.
The dire situation has exposed the government’s incompetence on multiple fronts including disaster management and response. Instead of providing immediate relief to the people, the authorities failed to regulate prices, hoarding, and black marketing. The price increases are inflicting more hardships on the already suffering people. The government must work with provincial governments and municipal administrations to regulate market prices and ensure that maximum relief is provided to those affected by the floods.
Javed Panhyar
Kandhkot
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2022.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
