Inflation: Ramazan price hike hits upper Sindh

SUKKUR: Do not even think about preparing fruit chat this Ramazan, a woman told her daughter, who was urging her to buy fruit. With a frustrated look, she accused the fruit vendor that he and his peers are responsible for the artificial price hike, to which the vendor smiled sheepishly.

“What is the use of publishing such things when nobody is going to take action?” she questioned The Express Tribune, clearly upset.

A survey at Victoria Market in Sukkur showed that the prices of almost all the daily-used commodities, especially fruits, have doubled. A dozen bananas, which were available for Rs60 just two days before, are now sold for Rs110 per dozen. As Pakistani apples are not available in the market, apples from South Africa, New Zealand and USA are available for between Rs250 and Rs300 per kilogramme (kg). Similarly, oranges from Egypt cost between Rs200 and Rs225 per kg.

An upward trend in the price of vegetables was also observed, as tomatoes, which were available for Rs10 to Rs15 per kg, are now available for Rs40 per kg. Like every year, the retailers are shifting the onus of the price hike onto the wholesalers, while the wholesalers are blaming the retailers. The retailers, accusing the market committee officials of extortion, said they are pressurised to sell their produce at the lowest possible price.

Sukur deputy commissioner Dr Waheed Asghar Bhatti said that the price control mechanism exists and will be implemented. “Nobody will be allowed to mar the blessings of the holy month,” he vowed. He said he will investigate the additional charges imposed on shopkeepers by the market committee officials.

A ‘Sasta Ramazan Bazaar’ has been jointly established by the Sukkur Small Traders and Sukkur Development Alliance. Inaugurating the Ramazan bazaar, Dr Bhatti appreciated the organisations for taking steps to provide daily-used commodities to the people at cheaper rates. Sukkur Small Traders and Sukkur Development Alliance president Jawed Memon said they are selling commodities 25 to 30% cheaper than the wholesale market.

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