In K-P, food prices skyrocket with advent of Ramazan
Officials take action against price hike but traders remain undeterred
Vendors frying Iftar items in a market in Peshawar where price of cooking oil has increased with the advent of Ramazan. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR:
All claims of the provincial government to control price hike in Ramazan fell to the ground as rates tested new records in a month known for the high demand for fruit and culinary delights.
The food department teams, in particular, failed to check prices. The advent of the fasting month of Ramazan has opened the floodgates of inflation in prices of fruits and many kitchen items.
According to a field survey of The Express Tribune, food department teams were seen limited their activities to the wholesale markets of the province while the hoarders and profiteers are looting the people in retail bazaars unchecked.
Market prices in provincial capital were seen above the official rates. Lemons were selling out at Rs480 per kg against an official rate of Rs200, mango for Rs500 per kg, watermelon Rs42 per kg as against the official rate of Rs25 per kg and banana Rs120 a dozen instead of Rs80.
According to market sources prices have escalated by 200 per cent with the advent of the holy month of Ramazan.
Traders have flouted the order of the deputy commissioner and the district Nazim to follow the official price list. Shopkeepers and vendors were charging extra against the fixed prices of the government. The city administration has fixed the price of boned beef at Rs350 per kg, however, butchers were openly skinning the people charging Rs450 per kg. Milk rates also boiled up by another Rs10 to Rs120.
Touts at work
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Food Department Director Saadat Hasan and Peshwar DC Muhammad Ali Asghar had directed Rationing Controller Aftab Umer and Assistant Food Controller Tasbeeh Ullah to visit Peshawar’s vegetable market. The food department team checked in at the Subzi Mandi when the auction was going on.
The food department officials and The Express Tribune team saw agents of vegetable commission agents standing in the crowd. The auction of lemon started from Rs200 per kg, however, the agents of traders kept raising the bid to the desired level.
Assistant Food Controller Tasbeeh Ullah taking action filed a complaint against five vegetable commission agents and Subzi Mandi Retail Sellers Association President Amanullah and four other retailers at Chamkani police station.
Ask for price list
Meanwhile, Cantonment Magistrate Quratulain Wazir has asked people to demand price-list from shopkeepers before purchasing vegetables or other edible items to curb profiteering.
During her visit to different bazaars and markets, she asked the customers to report profiteering in case of complaints so that timely action could be taken against the accused involved and they could be sent to jail.
She assured to visit the markets and bazaars in cantonment areas on daily basis but urged the masses to also cooperation with the administration to curb profiteering and hoarding during the holy month of Ramadan.
Earlier, she visited Saddar road, Bach Khan Chowk, Warsak Road, and other areas and checked price list. She directed the shopkeepers to clearly display price-list otherwise strict action would be taken.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2019.
All claims of the provincial government to control price hike in Ramazan fell to the ground as rates tested new records in a month known for the high demand for fruit and culinary delights.
The food department teams, in particular, failed to check prices. The advent of the fasting month of Ramazan has opened the floodgates of inflation in prices of fruits and many kitchen items.
According to a field survey of The Express Tribune, food department teams were seen limited their activities to the wholesale markets of the province while the hoarders and profiteers are looting the people in retail bazaars unchecked.
Market prices in provincial capital were seen above the official rates. Lemons were selling out at Rs480 per kg against an official rate of Rs200, mango for Rs500 per kg, watermelon Rs42 per kg as against the official rate of Rs25 per kg and banana Rs120 a dozen instead of Rs80.
According to market sources prices have escalated by 200 per cent with the advent of the holy month of Ramazan.
Traders have flouted the order of the deputy commissioner and the district Nazim to follow the official price list. Shopkeepers and vendors were charging extra against the fixed prices of the government. The city administration has fixed the price of boned beef at Rs350 per kg, however, butchers were openly skinning the people charging Rs450 per kg. Milk rates also boiled up by another Rs10 to Rs120.
Touts at work
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Food Department Director Saadat Hasan and Peshwar DC Muhammad Ali Asghar had directed Rationing Controller Aftab Umer and Assistant Food Controller Tasbeeh Ullah to visit Peshawar’s vegetable market. The food department team checked in at the Subzi Mandi when the auction was going on.
The food department officials and The Express Tribune team saw agents of vegetable commission agents standing in the crowd. The auction of lemon started from Rs200 per kg, however, the agents of traders kept raising the bid to the desired level.
Assistant Food Controller Tasbeeh Ullah taking action filed a complaint against five vegetable commission agents and Subzi Mandi Retail Sellers Association President Amanullah and four other retailers at Chamkani police station.
Ask for price list
Meanwhile, Cantonment Magistrate Quratulain Wazir has asked people to demand price-list from shopkeepers before purchasing vegetables or other edible items to curb profiteering.
During her visit to different bazaars and markets, she asked the customers to report profiteering in case of complaints so that timely action could be taken against the accused involved and they could be sent to jail.
She assured to visit the markets and bazaars in cantonment areas on daily basis but urged the masses to also cooperation with the administration to curb profiteering and hoarding during the holy month of Ramadan.
Earlier, she visited Saddar road, Bach Khan Chowk, Warsak Road, and other areas and checked price list. She directed the shopkeepers to clearly display price-list otherwise strict action would be taken.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2019.