Citizens suffer as govt fails to control inflation
Blame authorities’ mismanagement for sprawling crisis
PHOTO: Reuters
LAHORE:
Authorities seem to be struggling to control crisis of essential commodities one after another as oil and ghee scarcity and price hike have surfaced in the city.
Earlier, wheat flour, then sugar and now edible oil prices have skyrocketed affecting the masses, especially in urban areas across the province.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on Tuesday, citizens complained about an exorbitant increase in prices of almost all essential commodities.
A citizen, Muhammad Hanif, said the government has given a free hand to the profiteers to fleece the common man.
“Earlier, they created flour crisis. Later, the government allowed sugar millers to jack up the prices and now the cooking oil was getting dearer on the pretext of increase in palm oil price in international markets and the depreciation of rupee against the greenback,” he said.
Inflation rises 11.4% on hike in food, energy prices
A sugar dealer, Asghar Butt, said owing to the mismanagement of the state machinery, sugar millers have increased the sweetener’s prices. “Though a little respite is seen in sugar price in Akbari Mandi price has already reached the highest level.”
Following a drop of Rs40 per 50-kilogramme bag, the commodity was traded for Rs77.25 per kilogramme at the factory gate and Rs3,960 for a 50-kg bag in the wholesale markets.
A shopkeeper from Military Accounts Housing Society said sugar prices were hovering around Rs85 a kilogramme in retail markets. Several dealers have stopped supply of the sweetener to reap maximum profit.
A market survey showed that exorbitant increase is also witnessed in the price of edible oil and ghee in retail and wholesale markets. It showed that A-grade ghee and cooking oil was being sold for Rs256 a kilogramme following an increase of Rs20 a kilogramme.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2020.
Authorities seem to be struggling to control crisis of essential commodities one after another as oil and ghee scarcity and price hike have surfaced in the city.
Earlier, wheat flour, then sugar and now edible oil prices have skyrocketed affecting the masses, especially in urban areas across the province.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on Tuesday, citizens complained about an exorbitant increase in prices of almost all essential commodities.
A citizen, Muhammad Hanif, said the government has given a free hand to the profiteers to fleece the common man.
“Earlier, they created flour crisis. Later, the government allowed sugar millers to jack up the prices and now the cooking oil was getting dearer on the pretext of increase in palm oil price in international markets and the depreciation of rupee against the greenback,” he said.
Inflation rises 11.4% on hike in food, energy prices
A sugar dealer, Asghar Butt, said owing to the mismanagement of the state machinery, sugar millers have increased the sweetener’s prices. “Though a little respite is seen in sugar price in Akbari Mandi price has already reached the highest level.”
Following a drop of Rs40 per 50-kilogramme bag, the commodity was traded for Rs77.25 per kilogramme at the factory gate and Rs3,960 for a 50-kg bag in the wholesale markets.
A shopkeeper from Military Accounts Housing Society said sugar prices were hovering around Rs85 a kilogramme in retail markets. Several dealers have stopped supply of the sweetener to reap maximum profit.
A market survey showed that exorbitant increase is also witnessed in the price of edible oil and ghee in retail and wholesale markets. It showed that A-grade ghee and cooking oil was being sold for Rs256 a kilogramme following an increase of Rs20 a kilogramme.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2020.