Commissioner’s office failing to control prices
The Sindh government reinstated the commissionerate system in the province about a decade ago. Among its rationale was to effectively deal with routine matters like controlling commodity prices. It has seemingly failed on that front.
Even as people deal with double-digit inflation, retailers across Karachi are not paying any heed to the price caps issued by the Karachi commissioner’s office. They are charging self-determined prices for daily essentials like flour, pulses, oil, chicken, vegetables, and milk. However, Kokab Iqbal of the Consumer Association of Pakistan says blaming only the retailers for the problem was the easy way out.
“While retailers should be blamed for not adhering to the price limits, Karachi’s commissioner, who is the chief controller of prices, has failed to enforce his writ,” he said. “Among the many responsibilities of the deputy commissioner (DC) and assistant Commissioners (ACs) is to issue price lists for food and beverages and then visit markets to check if they are being implemented.” If the pricing limits are not enforced, then the DC and ACs can reprimand the offenders since they have the powers of a magistrate, as per Iqbal.
“However, neither the commissioner, nor his deputy and assistants exercise their powers. Whatever action they take is just a mere formality. If they were serious about controlling prices they would go after wholesalers, who hoard products and engage in price gouging.” Iqbal was of the view that the lax attitude of the commissioner and other officials concerned meant that people in the city would suffer even more during Ramazan.
“The only way we will be able to bear the inflation in Ramazan is if the commissioner, instead of sitting in his air conditioned office, steps out into the markets and tries to enforce prices,” the chairman of the consumer watchdog said.
He said that apart from the commissioner, the Bureau of Supply and Prices was also there for the reason “but it is powerless.”
The Express Tribune spoke to Ali Haider Arain, an official at the Bureau of Supply and Prices, to inquire about the department’s role in controlling commodity prices.
“Our department used to control commodity prices back in 2002, when we were under the Sindh government, but not anymore,” he said. “In 2012-2013, the authority to regulate commodity prices was handed to the office of the Karachi commissioner.
Our role is limited to market surveys and reporting back the prices to the commissioner, DC, and ACs, who are then responsible for taking action, Arain said.
The Express Tribune reached out to Karachi Commissioner Iqbal Memon multiple times to inquire about the inaction against profiteers and the inability of his office to enforce its writ, but did not receive a reply.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2023.