Price control magistrates fail to curb profiteering

Officials say food prices likely to come down with reopening of wholesale markets

RAWALPINDI:

At a time when people continue to reel under the highest-ever inflation in the country’s 75 years of history, the ongoing Eid holidays have resulted in bringing about another wave of inflation due to the closure of wholesale markets.

The unprecedented hike in the prices of food items has put a question mark on the role of price control magistrates in the garrison city who were seen mostly absent from the scene. As major grain, vegetable, and fruit markets remained closed during the holidays, smaller traders, retailers, and pushcart owners were seen setting out on an unbridled spree of profiteering.

Sources familiar with the situation told this scribe that the absence of price control committees, assistant commissioners, and other government officials also contributed to the upward spiral in the prices of vegetables, fruits, pulses, rice, meat, green coriander, green chilies, beverages, and bread.

In Ramadan, 60 price control magistrates and assistant commissioners were appointed by the district administration to keep prices in check, but citizens were still severely impacted by inflation.

Passengers traveling from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to other areas also experienced difficulties due to the unavailability of public transport and the exorbitant fares of taxis and rickshaws.

Meanwhile, the naanbais increased the prices of roti and related products due to the continuous increase in the price of flour.

Due to the closure of the vegetable and fruit markets, coriander leaves, which are typically given free of cost with vegetables, were sold at Rs30 per buddle in the city.

Similarly, the prices of grapes, pomegranates, guavas, strawberries, watermelons, melons, patiri roti, naan, paratha, tea, cold drinks, rice, mutton, beef, live chicken, chicken meat, and milk also skyrocketed.

Authorities concerned have said that all markets, including the wholesale markets, will reopen on Wednesday, which might help arrest the upward march of inflation.

On the other hand, citizens expressed their annoyance that all departments chose to remain unbothered during the Eid holidays nevertheless, the reopening of markets provides hope for more affordable prices of food items.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2023.