Profiteers raise food prices in Multan

Flour being sold at Rs65 per kg instead of Rs40

MULTAN:

Prices of food items have been drastically increased by profiteers in Multan, while sugar and flour have also become scarce at utility stores.

In the general market, sugar is being sold at Rs110 per kg, while a 20 kilogrammes bag of flour is being sold for Rs1,500.

Chicken meat is being sold at Rs260 per kg and eggs for Rs170 per dozen.

The prices of vegetables have also increased by Rs20 to Rs100 per kg.

However, no action has been reported against the profiteers who illegally increased the food prices.

Local consumers complained that the authorities had failed to control the prices of flour and sugar.

The supply of flour and sugar at the utility stores could not be restored, as per reports.

The government had announced sale of sugar for Rs68 per kg at the utility stores and a 20kg bag of flour for Rs860, but the sweetener has been rarely found at the utility stores during the past three months.

Similarly, flour is also not being supplied to the stores.

Meanwhile, profiteers have increased the prices in the markets arbitrarily.

Flour is being sold at Rs65 per kg instead of Rs40.

According to utility stores' sources, a tender for sugar supply could not be completed due to which the supply of sugar to the stores across the country has been affected, while the flour comes from local mills as per quota, which is sold out in a short time.

Even before the onset of winter, egg prices have increased. Eggs are being sold at Rs170 per dozen.

The steep increase in prices of vegetables has left the people deprived of affordable options to meet their food requirement.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2020.