Prices for 26 essential items fixed

Traders reject new price list as impossible to implement

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi district administration on Thursday notified the new retail prices of some 26 essential items for the holy month of Ramazan.

The decision was made during a meeting of District Price Control Committee headed by Rawalpindi District Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Ali Randhawa.

Some 40 teams comprising magistrates, price control committees and assistant commissioners have been directed to ensure that the prices mentioned in the list are followed on the ground. Vendors have been warned of heavy fines if they are found to be selling goods over the mentioned prices.

Moreover, complaint cells will also be established in Ramazan bazaars and offices of price control committees.

According to the approved price list, a kilogramme of basmati rice will be available for Rs120 per kg in the open market and Rs118 at the Ramazan bazaars. Sugar will be available from Rs55 to Rs61 per kg.

Mutton, beef, yoghurt and gram flour will be available for Rs790, Rs370 and Rs122 per kg respectively. In Ramazan bazaars, these items will be available for Rs750, Rs345 and Rs118 per kg respectively.

The open market rates for yoghurt and milk have been set at Rs80 per kg and Rs70 per litre respectively.

Wheat flour will be available in the bazaars for Rs29 per kg. Open market rates for vegetable oil are yet to be set by the government.

Traders reject prices

Retailers and trade unions in Rawalpindi have completely rejected the official price list issued by the DC.

The retailers demanded that the government should ensure the supply of essential items from wholesalers and flour mills at rates in line with their price list if they wanted to effectively control the price hike during Ramazan.

Vegetable Market President and a spokesperson for the main traders union, Ghulam Qadir, told The Express Tribune that the DC had fixed the price of gram flour at Rs122 per kg while the wholesalers are supplying its 37 kg bag for Rs4,800 or Rs130 per kg.

Similarly, sugar was being supplied at Rs70 per kg and hence it was impossible for store owners to sell it for Rs61 per kg.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2019.