Going fruitless in Karachi

Every Ramazan we hear a cacophony of voices moaning about the wild and unchecked prices of food items and other related commodities. Coupled with this is the endless and not wholly fair comparison with GCC states that offer pretty hefty discounts on most commodities during the holy month of fasting. Last Ramazan, for instance, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) slashed the prices of 5,000 food items by up to 70 per cent. While most Pakistanis realise this may not exactly be possible in their country, they can and should expect prices to remain stable and be properly regulated by the authorities.

What keeps the officials concerned with price control from promptly responding to these complaints is their enduring and not wholly inaccurate belief that the consumers are too powerless and lethargic to organise a sustained campaign against spiralling prices. They are far likely to stage or join a protest against electricity outages than appear on the streets to demand their rights as consumers. The times are beginning to change though and thanks to social media activists Karachi has managed to organise the first-of-its-kind boycott of fruit for three days — to the shock of traders and sellers. Though the campaign does not have the backing of any political party, it has won some useful endorsements from Karachi Commissioner Ejaz Ahmed Khan and Sindh Transport Minister Nasir Hussain Shah. As observed by the commissioner, penalties and fines rarely help overcome the problem of overpricing. We assume he was only talking about Pakistan because in most other parts of the globe penalties act as a strong enough deterrent. Apparently our compatriots are made of sterner stuff.

Much of the campaign’s success would hinge on the response of the public and whether people are willing to follow through on the pledge to boycott fruit purchases. In theory, it does have the potential to bring predatory retailers to their knees. However, the drive against overpricing needs to be all inclusive and consider the role of all players in the business from producer to wholesaler and from retailer to the middle-man. One also has to exercise stronger will and resolve to tackle the menace of overcharging. That’s where the government comes in.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2017.

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