Consumers left at profiteers’ mercy

Despite clear instructions of the prime ministers and Punjab chief minister, the local administration has failed to rein in profiteering in markers across the provincial capital. Complaints of overcharging and an inflationary trend are on the rise following the recent increase in prices of petroleum products.

A survey of different city markets on Sunday showed that the authorities had left the citizens at the mercy of shopkeepers and traders who were fleecing them in broad daylight owing to the negligence of the price control officials.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, several citizens complained about violations of the official rate lists and sale of low-quality products in weekly makeshift markets in different areas of the metropolis.

A resident of the provincial capital, Huzaifa Mahmood, said greengrocers and street vendors were selling essential commodities at high prices on the pretext of an increase in the petroleum products’ rates.

He pointed out that the government had fixed the sugar price at Rs90 per kg but the sweetener was not available at the official rate in almost all markets. Only a few big departmental stores are selling imported sugar at the notified rates but the majority of shops in the city are selling the local variety for Rs120 to Rs130 per kg.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2021.