Consumers’ battle against inflation continues

Transport, food prices refuse to budge despite fuel relief

RAWALPINDI:

The recent reduction in fuel prices has not resulted in any relief for consumers with transporters, wholesalers and retailers refusing a downward revision in prices as expected by the public.

Visitors to the Sunday market at Rawalpindi’s Community Chowk, hoping to find cost-effective solutions, found prices as exorbitant as before, with ginger selling at Rs1,600 per kg.

This comes as transporters – both intra and intercity – also refused to reduced fares while dismissing the decrease in fuel prices as ‘cumin seed in a camel’s mouth’.

On Saturday night, petrol price came down by Rs8 per litre after a two-month hike, with the new price set at Rs323.38 per litre.

Meanwhile, the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) dropped by Rs11 to Rs318.18 per litre.

Transport woes

A representative of a local transport association, Raja Nazir, called the reduction ‘a joke’ while stating that the stop-to-stop fare for intra-city travel would remain at Rs60.

The fare from Rawalpindi to Islamabad would remain at Rs130. From Raja Bazar to Committee Chowk, it would be Rs80. It would be Rs100 while travelling from Raja Bazar to Morgah or Koh-e-Noor mills to Kutcherry.

The Metro Bus has also decided to maintain the Rs50 fare for passengers.

Transporters said the new fares were justified considering the multifold increase in the price of spare parts.

The tyres of the popular Toyota Hiace was Rs78,000 16 months ago. “Now, the price is Rs148,000,” said Nazir.

Others pointed out that the prices of various parts such as brake discs, engine oil, leather among others had quadrupled. They said that engine oil was previously Rs2,400 but was now Rs6,800. Similarly, a Toyota engine was Rs400,000 but now it is more than thrice the amount.

Transporters said that would not reduce fares until petrol and diesel prices were closer to Rs200 per litre. The railways has also kept fares the same despite a protest from travellers.

The fare from Rawalpindi to Lahore is between Rs2,700 to 3,000. For Rawalpindi to Karachi, fare between Rs 6,700 to 7,000 is being charged.

The fare from Rawalpindi to Multan is between Rs2,900 to 3,000.

Food prices

With Pakistan in the grips of record-breaking inflation, the prices of essential items have also continued to move upward.

At the Sunday market, ginger was sold for Rs1,600 per kg, while onions were available at Rs120 per kg.

Similarly, potatoes and tomatoes were at Rs100 per kg, while cabbage was at Rs135 per kg. Garlic fetched a price of Rs560 per kg, while bitter gourd and green chillies were priced at Rs110 and Rs120 per kg respectively.

Fruits were also sold at elevated rates. Apples were being retailed for Rs300 per kg while pomegranates and grapes were sold for Rs350 and Rs300 per kg respectively. The vendors were reluctant to negotiate on prices or offer discounts.

Muhammad Israr, who had ventured to the Sunday Market, expressed his distress over the unrelenting grip of inflation, which he said had significantly stretched his budget.

Khadija Bibi, another shopper, lamented the conspicuous silence of the ruling authorities in response to this crippling inflation.