Prices continue to show an upward trend

RAWALPINDI: The prices of daily commodities have continued to increase over the past two weeks. Red chilies, priced at Rs6,500 per 40kg two weeks ago were being sold for Rs10,400 on Thursday.

The price of vegetable oil, too, has increased from Rs750 for 5 kg to Rs945. Wholesalers predict the prices will further increase in the coming days, to Rs1,000 per 5kg tin of hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Sugar was the only commodity that showed a stable price. It continued to be sold in the open market for Rs70 per kg.

The president of Anjuman-e-Tajran Sabzi Mandi, Ghulam Qadir Mir, said that the prices increased because of the higher POL prices. Even though the government withdrew the price hike, the prices of most daily commodities have increased, he said.  He added that the district administration had no control over the prices.

“The magistrates walk around fining small shopkeepers, but do not catch the wholesalers, the real culprits,” he added. Each shopkeeper found selling items at inflated rates is fined Rs1,000. Mir alleged the district administration was not taking action against them because of political influence.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2011.