The sugar crisis further worsened in the twin cities on the fifth Ramazan on Thursday, prompting the Kiryana Merchants Association to announce a suspension of sugar sales starting today (Friday).
Sugar completely vanished from government-subsidised bazaars and stalls and was sold at Rs170 per kilogramme in the open market on Wednesday, raising questions about the district administration's price control measures during the holy month of Ramzan.
The association's president, Saleem Pervaiz Butt, said that retailers cannot buy sugar at Rs163 per kg and sell it at Rs164 per kg, as their transportation, packaging, loading, and labour costs amount to Rs10 per kg.
He demanded a profit margin of at least Rs10 per kg for retailers, outright rejecting the government-mandated price of Rs164 per kg. Butt further highlighted that sugar prices are rising daily, with the price of a sugar sack increasing regularly.
Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hassan Waqar Cheema has warned shopkeepers that selling sugar above Rs164 per kg will result in store closures, legal action, and arrests.
Faced with these restrictions, retailers have no choice but to halt sugar sales, the association's office-bearer said and added that instructions have been issued across all divisions, and starting Friday, sugar will be completely removed from store shelves.
The Kiryana Merchants Association also pointed out that before this, the Poultry Retailers Union and the Mutton and Beef Retailers Union had also gone on strike due to government-fixed prices. The association urged the government to set sugar, meat, and poultry prices in line with market supply.
Despite passing five days, the price control magistrates appeared to be utterly helpless in regulating the prices of essential food items and beverages for Sehri and Iftar.
Prices of vegetables, fruits, and other items for Sehri and Iftar have increased, while sugar is not available even at government-subsidised markets and stalls. Due to the lack of subsidies at the Utility Stores, all the stores in the city are presenting a desolate picture.
Since the start of Ramazan, the rising prices of vegetables and fruits have continued unabated. In the open market, ghee is being sold at Rs500 per kg, oil Rs520 per litre, mutton Rs2,400 per kg, beef Rs1,400 per kg, gram flour Rs400 per kg.
Vendors are selling coriander leaves (which are given free with vegetables) at Rs30 per bunch, potatoes Rs90 per kg, onions Rs100 per kg, garlic Rs800 per kg, ginger Rs600 per kg, peas Rs100 per kg, tomatoes Rs150 per kg, and lemons Rs200 per kg.
Banana is being sold at Rs300 per dozen, oranges Rs400-500 per dozen, guava Rs250 per kg, apple Rs300-400 per kg, pomegranates Rs450 per kg, melons Rs250 per kg, gram flour Rs400 per kg, chickpeas Rs390 per kg, samosa Rs500 per dozen, pakora Rs600 per kg, and kachoris is being sold at Rs190 per piece.
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