In a pickle: Grocery prices remain unaltered in Gilgit
Altaf Hussain, a vegetable and fruit vendor, said retailers cannot reduce prices on their own
GILGIT:
Though fuel prices have been slashed by the government, the benefit is yet to trickle down to the people in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).
“The prices of grocery and other daily commodities are still soaring,” said Imtiaz Khan, a resident of Gilgit, on Friday. “We were expecting a considerable decrease in prices of daily items transported to Gilgit but that has not happened,” he complained.
Most of commodities are transported to G-B from Rawalpindi via the Karakoram Highway since the local food industry is not sufficient for subsistence. Prices double by the time the goods reach G-B, due to transportation costs based on the 600km journey.
Altaf Hussain, a vegetable and fruit vendor, said retailers cannot reduce prices on their own. “We buy from fruit and vegetable markets and the prices there are still unchanged,” he added.
Hussain said a dozen bananas cost him Rs70 which he sells at Rs85. Meanwhile in Rawalpindi, the same would cost a shopkeeper Rs50 at most, he explained.
“The matter should be investigated seriously,” said G-B Minister for Minerals Muhammad Naseer. “We will take the issue up and ensure the relief is passed on to G-B,” he told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2014.
Though fuel prices have been slashed by the government, the benefit is yet to trickle down to the people in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).
“The prices of grocery and other daily commodities are still soaring,” said Imtiaz Khan, a resident of Gilgit, on Friday. “We were expecting a considerable decrease in prices of daily items transported to Gilgit but that has not happened,” he complained.
Most of commodities are transported to G-B from Rawalpindi via the Karakoram Highway since the local food industry is not sufficient for subsistence. Prices double by the time the goods reach G-B, due to transportation costs based on the 600km journey.
Altaf Hussain, a vegetable and fruit vendor, said retailers cannot reduce prices on their own. “We buy from fruit and vegetable markets and the prices there are still unchanged,” he added.
Hussain said a dozen bananas cost him Rs70 which he sells at Rs85. Meanwhile in Rawalpindi, the same would cost a shopkeeper Rs50 at most, he explained.
“The matter should be investigated seriously,” said G-B Minister for Minerals Muhammad Naseer. “We will take the issue up and ensure the relief is passed on to G-B,” he told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2014.