High prices anger citizens

‘Low quality food being sold at outrageous prices’

BAHAWALPUR: The Ramazan bazaars have failed to provide relief to the people of Bahawalpur as products are being sold on higher rates than the regular market. Ramazan bazaars established to facilitate the public have allegedly become humiliating places for people where they find low quality foodstuffs at high prices contrary to government claims regarding subsidy on foodstuffs.

The common man can hardly afford essential commodities due to profiteering. Citizens keep complaining about the prices of everyday use commodities.



Shoppers at different Ramazan bazaars said the government has failed to provide relief to citizen as prices of most of the seasonal fruits and vegetables are high. 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.

A resident Zareena Bibi told The Express Tribune, “This bazaar should be called “Loot Bazaar” as prices of majority of the food items are exceptionally high.” She added that the government has failed to take action against profiteers who are becoming the reason of artificial inflation.

Malik Arif, a resident of Maqbool Colony, told The Express Tribune that there is not much difference in the prices of Ramazan bazaar and the regular market. “However in some products prices here are higher than the local market. For instance, date fruit is being sold at Rs150 per kg in the local market and it is being sold at Rs200 per kg in Ramazan bazaar,” he maintained. A resident of Shadman Colony, Danish Sharif, said that sub-standard and unknown brand products are being sold in Ramazan bazaars.

Another resident Qamaruddin said, “These bazaars are nothing more than a waste of money.” He added the government should devise a policy to control inflation rather than wasting its resources on failed programmes like Ramazan bazaars.

Simialrly, a resident of Muhajir Colony Muhammad Ali told The Express Tribune that people are not getting relief from Ramazan bazaars. “If the government is really serious to provide relief to the people then it should take stern action against the hoarders.”

Citizen Munir Ahmad said that throughout the world, prices of daily household products are lowered in the month of Ramazan. “But in our country, the prices are increased and the government seems helpless in controlling inflation,” he lamented.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2018.