Locals bear brunt, overpriced fruit of PTI protest

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf may have marched on the federal capital for the noble cause of freeing its incarcerated founder Imran Khan, but the resulting road blockages in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have caused the prices of daily consumables have gone beyond the reach of the common man.

Prices of vegetables in markets like Firdous and others have skyrocketed. Ginger is being sold at Rs600 per kg, garlic at Rs600 per kg, tomatoes at Rs250 per kg, okra at Rs200 per kg, and bitter gourd at Rs250 per kg.

Residents expressed their frustration, stating that chicken and meat were already out of reach for the poor, and now vegetables have also become unaffordable.

They urged the government to focus on providing relief to the people and ensure the availability of basic food items instead of organising protests and sit-ins.

Local residents told The Express Tribune that the prices of daily use items, including vegetables and fruits, had risen considerably without inviting any attention from the quarters concerned.

"I am a fruit seller and like the rest of the vendors, am forced to sell days-old fruit because the motorway is closed, along with GT Road," he lamented. "Nothing can reach K-P due to the PTI protest," said Waheed Khan.

He said that prices of vegetables have registered a 100 per cent increase in the past few days. He added that the general public has borne the brunt of frequent protest calls by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

Another fruit seller, Rehmatullah, had similar grievances. He said that the purchasing power of K-P residents had decreased dramatically in the past few years. "There is no buyer for my fruits due to the increased prices."

He continued that fruit is now a luxury, as people can barely afford to put two meals a day on the table. "Who will buy fruits that are days old and double the normal price?" he asked rhetorically.

Another vegetable vendor pointed out that the produce comes from different parts of Punjab and Sindh. "Since Monday, the motorway and GT Road have been closed due to the PTI protest. Vegetables cannot reach Peshawar, so there is a severe shortage. This mostly affected the lower segment of society."

Abdullah, a resident of Peshawar, complained that the provincial government is obsessed with Imran Khan's release, and in the process, has completely forgotten that such demonstrations have been making lives miserable for the general public.

He observed that on the other hand, the federal government has closed down the Torkham border with Afghanistan from where fruits are abundant, and potatoes are grown in large quantities.

"There is a shortage of rice, pulses, spices, vegetables, fruits, and even medicines in the local market," he concluded.