Price hike hits CDA’s Sasta Bazaars

1,284 retailers, shopkeepers face action over violation of Price Act

ISLAMABAD: The recent wave of price hikes of essential commodities across the country has even affected the government-run Sasta Bazaars in the federal capital.

Many visitors to the weekly markets operated by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in the federal capital lamented the sharp hike in prices of daily-use items, including tomatoes, onions, chicken and fish.

According to official price lists issued by the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) for Sunday, a kilogramme (kg) of tomatoes were being sold for as much as Rs220 in the weekly, regulated markets while potatoes were being sold for a high of Rs59 per kg. Similarly, the price of onions was Rs90 per kg.

Garlic was sold for over Rs200 per kg, peas in Rs86 per kg while a bunch of spinach was available for Rs18. The price of a kilogramme of cucumber was Rs46 per kg while a kilogramme of brinjal was Rs30.

Basic commodities such as eggs were being sold for Rs190 a dozen. Shaver chicken weighing more than a kilogramme was available at Rs140 whereas a kilogramme of beef remains at Rs370.

Furthermore, a kilogramme of apples was available for Rs130, while a kilogramme of pomegranates was being sold for Rs150. The price of a dozen bananas stayed at Rs65.

The price of freshwater fish is now Rs270 per kg. The price of deep-sea fish has now skyrocketed and is now available at Rs560 per kg.

Progress report against profiteering

To hold price magistrates accountable during a wave of price hikes, the district administration on Sunday issued a fortnightly progress report of its price magistrates on Sunday.

According to the documents, price magistrates conducted as many as 2,940 raids in Rawalpindi district during this period. They took action against some 1,284 retailers and shopkeepers for violating the Price Act.

Collectively, price magistrates imposed fines worth Rs2.325 million and up to 336 cases were registered against shopkeepers for profiteering. As many as 217 retailers were also rounded up during the given period.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Saifullah Dogar said that the directions have been issued by the government to control inflation and attempts to artificially hike prices.

He added that they were taking action against profiteers without any discrimination.

The DC further said that there was a zero-tolerance policy against hoarding and artificial price-hike. Regarding the pricing of commodities, he said that they monitored and regulated the bidding process for fruits and vegetables in their respective markets and the district officials then set the retail rates for commodities accordingly.

Legitimate profits were also determined in the presence of the market committees and a middle man, he added.

The DC said that during the first 10 days of November, some 222 shopkeepers were fined over Rs400,000 during raids on 520 spots in Rawalpindi.

He added that two profiteers were arrested and were booked. He said that action against the artificial price hike was being carried out regularly while the violators were being arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2019.