Karachhites left at the mercy of ‘dairy mafia’

Colluding traders unilaterally increased the price of one litre milk by Rs20

KARACHI:

The unrestrained dairy mafia has delivered another blow to the public already reeling from the runaway inflation by arbitrarily increasing the price of milk by Rs20 per litre. This unscrupulous hike has sent the cost of milk to an alarming Rs230 per litre in the metropolitan city.

Despite the official price set at Rs180, the city administration and the Sindh government have failed miserably in enforcing it, resulting in a staggering Rs50 per litre difference between the official and dairy mafia's prices. Exploiting their power, the dairy mafia is raking in a profit of Rs50 on each litre of milk, accumulating a whopping Rs250 million from the daily sale of five million litres of milk. Karachi's milk industry has metamorphosed into a “river of wealth”, with both the city administration and the dairy mafia plunging headlong into this cash-laden venture.

The law appears powerless against the influence of money. Disgruntled citizens argue that if the government itself cannot implement the official prices, how can it ensure the protection of its own people? The dairy mafia blatantly defies the law and nonchalantly raises prices, charging exorbitant rates to the unsuspecting public. Regrettably, the matter of milk prices consistently favours financial interests, leaving the public grappling with the burdens of backbreaking inflation.

Despite public demonstrations, the prices dictated by the dairy mafia eventually gain acceptance, granting shopkeepers an unrestricted license to peddle milk at unlawful prices. Insiders within the dairy sector reveal that influential political figures and administration officials actively patronise this illicit business. From high-ranking police officers to bureaucrats, individuals spanning various strata are complicit, fuelling the pernicious escalation of milk prices. The public, meanwhile, is left at the mercy of the dairy mafia after only fleeting displays of resistance.