Food supply disruption spurs price hike

Traders have been selling food items at arbitrary prices since November 24

ISLAMABAD:

The prices of vegetables and fruits shot up in the federal capital on Tuesday as food supplies shattered after the authorities sealed the federal capital to foil the PTI D-Chowk protest.

The district administration has failed to ensure arrangements for the uninterrupted supply of food items to the citizens. Traders and shopkeepers have been selling food items at arbitrary prices since November 24.

Vendors have warned that if the wholesale fruit and vegetable markets are not reopened within 48 hours and containers transporting produce from other cities are not allowed to enter the city, the price of vegetables in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad could rise to Rs500 per kilogramme.

According to shoppers, in all small and big markets, tomatoes are being sold at Rs300 per kg, onions at Rs180 per kg, peas at Rs250 per kg, cucumbers at Rs180 per kg, spinach at Rs70 per stack, leafy greens at Rs70 per stack, lemons at Rs600 per kg, ginger at Rs1,000 per kg, garlic at Rs800 per kg, cauliflower at Rs150 per kg, turnips at Rs120 per kg, first-grade green chillies at Rs350 per kg, cabbage at Rs150 per kg, and bitter gourd at Rs 150 per kg.

They said that the federal government and the district administration knew about the November 24 protest several weeks in advance. However, no prior steps were taken to ensure uninterrupted supply of food items, especially vegetables and fruits.

On the first day of the protest, vegetables and fruits were being sold at high prices but were available fresh, shoppers added.

As the shortage of perishable goods occurred on November 25 and 26, the vendors started charging exorbitant prices without any fear of action. Commoners were forced to buy substandard vegetables and fruits at almost double prices.

Additionally, the weekly Sunday makeshift markets, usually organised by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the District Monitoring Authority (DMA) for affordable food items, have not been set up, forcing consumers to buy expensive food items from open markets.

Citizens Chaudhry Imran Ali and Hafiz Sajid demanded that the government immediately reopen the roads leading to wholesale markets, which closed for several days, and enable the transport of vegetables, fruits, and essential food items. They urged authorities to stop exploiting the public, as food prices have already skyrocketed.