Profiteers exploit calamity
A woman and chidren sit outside their tent after taking refuge on a higher ground following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Jamshoro, Pakistan August 26, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS
As the nation struggles to cope with devastating floods, profiteers have jacked up prices of all relief items and essential commodities in the city.
A market survey revealed that prices of water-proof tents, tram-polines and other camping material had doubled owing to very high demand in markets across
the province. A local tents and canvas manufacturer, Muhammad Aziz, told.
The Express Tribune that as the devastating floods wreaked havoc in all four provinces the demand for tents had suddenly increased manifold and offered an opportu-
nity to profiteers to jack up prices.
“Right now, the canvas and tents market is so bullish that people are selling their products at the asking price. Even the very low-quality denier fabric tent is being sold for Rs10,000, which could hardly attract Rs5,000 on normal days. Aziz highlighted that Kasur is the main manufacturing hub of tents’ basic raw material, canvas, which is supplied across Pakistan.
Owing to high demand, prices of all materials used to manufacture tents, like canvas, thread and rivets, have been increased.“Apart from the principle of supply and demand, unfortunately, the current market situation shows the collective behaviour of the nation,” he lamented.
Similarly, prices of everyday use commodities have also been jacked up owing to disruption of the supply chain. A market survey indicated that the prices of onion, tomato, garlic, ginger and other agricultural commodities had increased by up to 300% in past couple of days.Onion was selling at Rs60-70 per kg in the provincial capital a few days ago.
The official price for A-grade onion was fixed at Rs180-190 per kg on Sunday, while it was traded for Rs300-350 per kg in different markets across the city.
Similarly, the price of A-grade tomato increased by Rs234 per kg and was fixed at Rs320-330 per kg, however it was sold for Rs400-450 per kg in the metropolis. B-grade and C-grade tomatoes price was fixed at Rs290-300 and Rs240-250 per kg, while both the varieties were sold for Rs300-350 per kg.
The price of A-grade soft skin potato also gained Rs20 per kg. It was fixed at Rs90-95 per kg; however, it was traded at above Rs120 per kg in the city, while substandard blended varieties were sold for Rs90-100 per kg.As per official price list issued by the market committee, the price of local garlic showed a little reduction as it was fixed at Rs205-215 per kg.
However, it was traded for Rs400-430 per kg in different areas of the provincial metropolis.
Thai ginger price witnessed an increase of Rs75 per kg. Its rate was fixed at Rs375-385 and was traded for Rs450-480 per kg in different areas of the city.Farmed cucumber price was increased by Rs50 per kg as its rate was fixed at Rs120-125 per kg.
However, it was sold for Rs150 per kg, while local cucumbers were traded for Rs200 per kg. Brinjal price was increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs 86-90 per kg but sold for Rs120-140 per kg. Similarly, bitter gourd price increased by Rs10 per kg, was fixed at Rs160-165 per kg and sold for over Rs200 per kg.
Spinach price also gained Rs10 per kg as its rate was fixed at Rs80-85 per kg and sold at Rs120 per kg. A similar price trend was witnessed for other seasonal vegetables and fresh fruits. Poultry rates also witnessed an increase on pretext of disruption in supply chain.
The price of live chicken gained Rs20 per kg and was officially fixed at Rs241 per kg, while poultry meat price was increased by Rs30 per kg to Rs362. However, the chicken meat was sold for Rs380-470 per kg in different areas.