Traditional inflation: Vendors bleed customers in Ramazan

Shop owners raise prices of everyday foodstuff; claim fruits and vegetables were sent to Afghanistan causing shortage

BANNU: With the arrival of Ramazan, shop owners and vendors in Bannu raised prices of everyday foodstuff. Though before the holy month, a kilogramme of tomatoes was available for Rs25. The price has now gone up to Rs60. Similarly onions have seen a per kg price hike of Rs40, mangos and peaches Rs80, plums Rs100, and dates now cost Rs240 per kg in the district. According to vegetable vendors, prices have gone up because market supply has thinned over the past few weeks. They speculated fruits and vegetables have been sent to Afghanistan which has caused the shortage. Vendors of prepared food follow their own pricing standards as demand for fried food soars during the holy month.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2015.