No respite: Belying govt claims, sasta bazaars hit by mehngai

Profiteering and greed run rampant despite message of kindness and charity in Ramazan.

ISLAMABAD: As is the case year in and year out, the onset of Ramazan was joined by hirer prices for basic food items despite the establishment of sasta bazaars across the twin cities and government claims that prices will be controlled.

A survey of the twin cities’ markets conducted by The Express Tribune revealed that the prices of essential commodities at sasta bazaars significantly vary from market to market, and that the average citizen has little or no idea how to check whether the rates are officially sanctioned or not.

Vendors blame wholesalers for the rise in prices, claiming they sell fruits and vegetables at jacked up rates, and with the addition of transportation costs, the vendors would suffer losses if they follow the government-issued price lists.

Meanwhile, wholesalers blame farmers and commission agents for forcing them to sell goods to vendors at higher rates. As this circle of blame continues, the general public is left to pay through the nose for fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables.

It is high time that new price control mechanisms be worked out which the government can actually enforce so that relief, or at least fair prices are offered to the citizenry.

See our special report on the Ramazan price hike on Page 15 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2014.