Profiteering: High prices at Ramazan bazaars vex customers

People complain there is no mechanism of effective price control and management

SADIQABAD: The district and provincial governments seem to be helpless in controlling profiteering, especially at Ramazan bazaars, reported Express News.

Despite tall claims made by the provincial government to control the prices of fruits and vegetables, the common man could hardly afford even essential commodities due to profiteering in city markets. Citizens kept complaining about the prices of everyday use commodities.

Shoppers at different Ramazan bazaars and open markets said the government has failed to provide relief to citizen as prices of most of the seasonal fruits and vegetables are high in Ramazan bazaars as well as open markets. They complained it is another false claim of the provincial and district governments that prices of most seasonal fruits, fresh vegetables and other essential commodities are lower in Ramazan bazaars when compared to open markets.

They complained greengrocers, shopkeepers and street vendors, are all busy in fleecing citizens but there is no mechanism of effective price control and management.  Most people were of the view that in Ramazan bazaars, they are selling assorted varieties or substandard commodities at the price of superior quality goods.

A citizen Akhtari Mai told Express News that in terms of quality, open market products were much cheaper as compared to Ramazan bazaars.  She added that the government has left citizens at the mercy of profiteers and hoarders in the city.

A shopper Muhammad Ashiq Ali pointed out that hardly any shopkeeper or street vendor displays price lists in city markets and nobody bothered about compliance.

Another citizen, Muhammad Imran said that he visited Ramazan bazaar and found that most seasonal fruits were not available on most of the stalls.

He maintained that the basic purpose of setting up these parallel markets is to facilitate people by offering essential commodities at discounted rates. “But, despite giving billions of rupees in subsidies, no respite is expected as most of these funds will be wasted in cosmetic arrangements and other administrative expenditures,” he remarked.

When contacted, officials of district administration denied profiteering and sale of substandard items in Ramazan bazaars.  They said that Ramazan bazaars are established in coordination with local administration and municipal committees. The prices are set according to the list provided by the government, they maintained.

Meanwhile, citizens demanded the commissioner and deputy commissioner ensure the provision of all items at cheap rates in Ramazan bazaars.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2018.