Magistrates fail to enforce official rates

Price of ghee, rice, oil, chickpeas, pulses and chicken increase daily as retailers prefer to throw away rate lists

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi district government and 60 price control magistrates have failed to enforce official price lists as retailers and shopkeepers continue to fleece consumers by fixing their own rates of essential commodities in the open market.

The so-called sasta bazaars and 16 Sunday markets have also become centres of inflation where cheap things are available but in the name.

The prices of ghee, rice, oil, chickpeas, pulses and chicken are increasing daily as retailers prefer to throw rate lists issued by the magistrates in the dustbin claiming that they could not afford to sell commodities at cheaper rates after purchasing them at a higher rate from the wholesalers.

Live chicken is being sold at Rs280 per kg, chicken meat at Rs425 per kg and eggs at Rs188 a dozen. Similarly, mutton is being sold at Rs1400 per kg, beef at Rs900 per kg, milk at Rs150 per litre, yoghurt at Rs170 per kg, oil at Rs605 per litre, ghee at Rs560 per kg, sugar at Rs100 per kg, white chickpea at Rs300 per kg, red beans at Rs330 per kg, rice at Rs350 per kg and flour at Rs90 per kg.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2022.