Price hike during Ramazan: A realistic, practical approach may curb black-marketing

As we are going through 'Shabaan' the holy month of Ramazan, a chance of 30 days 'Refresher Course' to earn the blessings of Allah stands only 2-3 weeks away from now onwards.
Muslim community in Arab countries specially in Saudi Arabia plan and prepare from now on the incentives, gifts and high reduction in all prices specially kitchen items during Ramazan to serve the people at the grass-roots level to gain the beneficence of Allah.
But in Pakistan, majority of business community as usual very keenly await Ramazan as an opportunity to hoard, stock, black-market, plunder and double charge citizens of food items to earn money from both hands instead of the blessings of Allah. In fact the wealth so earned does not have 'Barkat'.
The people involved in unwarranted 'price hike' and earning undue profit during Ramazan believe it as showering of money on them from sky, forgetting their ultimate accountability on final Day of Judgement before Allah.
All Muslims, even in Pakistan, though observe sanctity of Ramazan by fasting and praying, yet at the same time, a certain section of business community grab undue profit by selling food items at exorbitant rates, which is strictly forbidden in Qura'an and also against the teachings of our Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
These people repeatedly perform Umra and Hajj on one hand and continue indulging in misdeeds on the other. Few days prior to start of Ramazan till Eid-ul-Fitr in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and few other Arab countries, the business community voluntarily reduces the prices in all necessities of life, particularly in kitchen items such as fruits, vegetables, meat and dry fruit etc.
Some companies dealing in frozen food items like samosas, kababs, spring-rolls, kofta, burger, chicken, mutton, beef, fish, juices, cheese, butter, milk, beverages and many other items specifically prepare their 'Ramazan Packets', which they advertise and sell at all big super markets and small shops (Baqala) with open offer "Buy One Get One Free" packet, each containing 10-20 items of intact product as Ramazan gift.
By selling items double in quantity with reduced prices, they still not only earn profit in terms of money but also gain tremendous 'Barkat' on their earning with blessings of Allah. The said practice continues in every Ramazan every year on deliberate voluntary basis without any pressure or special enactment of law by government during Ramazan.
Rich people arrange free distribution of 'Iftari' and 'Sahri' packs of meals with soft drinks to public in general at external courtyards of Kaaba Haram Shareef in Makkah and Masjid-e-Nabvi at Medinah throughout 30 days of Ramazan. Naturally, this benefits people from all walks of life at grass-roots level. It is important to note; that the persons sponsoring 'Langar' do not disclose their name in public.
This is because they do it as real act of Faith to earn the goodwill of Allah only and not an ostentation to gain popularity among public. Many of Pakistanis performing Umra during the month of Ramazan must have physically witnessed and shared this glorious event in Saudi Arabia.
However, in Pakistan all wholesale as well as retail dealers selling food items exorbitantly raise prices of their choice and endeavour to skin the purchasers alive. All prices shoot up in a pre-planned manner.
Per kilo mutton goes from Rs 230 to 300, beef from Rs 150 to 200, the fresh fruits like apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, apricots etc, and vegetables like onions, potatoes, ginger, tomato, garlic and poultry products such as milk, yogurt, cheese and bakery items like bread, eggs, sweets including each and every item commonly used in Iftar and Saheri, are doubled in prices under the common practice, tradition and special Ramazan treatment in Pakistan.
This festivity of loot and plunder during 30 days of Ramazan is fearlessly, openly and daringly observed on all markets, roads and streets once in a year, every year, throughout the country with great enthusiasm. This black marketing certainly benefits a selected class of society for their monetary gains at the cost of common people at the lowest strata, within their limited resource, cannot afford to buy various things.
They keep patience and console themselves in an extreme state of the helplessness, with a hope that things will improve next year but the lawlessness continue as always.
The government machinery is well aware of the routine pre-planned price hike organised by a group of market Mafia during Ramazan each year but concerned authorities have not been able to curb the menace or evolve strategy to control black-marketing to ensure relief to society.
Knowing that 'price hike' during Ramazan is certainly going to happen, the concerned government quarters do no pre-plan 'anti price hike' campaign to rip marketing in the bud. Each year when initial 10 days of Ramazan have passed in loot and plunder of the black marketing, the public raise hue and cry and by the time this voice reaches the table of authorities concerned in their air-conditioned offices, almost 15 days of Ramazan would have passed.
In a snail-paced routine process, reports on price hikes are asked (as if it is happening for the 1st time) and till presentation of the report to competent authority, almost 25 days of Ramazan go away; after which controlled price lists are prepared and displayed in few markets during last 3-4 days of Ramazan.
Practically, these price lists are neither cared for nor complied by shopkeepers anywhere in the market. Finally the Ramazan comes to an end without provision of relief of price hike to common people.
However, prior to Eid-ul-Fitr during last 2-3 days of Ramazan, certain VIPs, for the sake of publicising on print and electronic media, their physical involvement in action against price-hike, make a round of a few markets. Their subordinates not only give them wrong briefing on price hike but also alert the black marketers of VIP's visit for obvious reasons.
The black marketeers during presence of VIP at their shops (hardly for 5-6 minutes) display controlled price list prescribed by government for just a show but keep selling their goods at exorbitant rates immediately after departure of VIP from their shop.
These charades happen every year at the end of Ramazan and repeated as a routine every following year without a permanent solution of the problem. Why can't we raise our moral character and observe Ramazan as Saudis do? Why the grip of government quarters is so loose and un-productive over black marketeers that even after passage of so many years, the routine pre-planned price hike during the month of holy Ramazan each year, has not been controlled?
Why our authorities are so stereotyped ignorant of the facts and late in reacting to the genuine cause for a positive solution? Why do we believe in just appearances and not in a realistic practical approach? It is hoped that concerned authorities at Federal as well Provincial level would take cognisance of the importance of the issue and ensure positive measures to control price hike not only during the forthcoming month of Ramazan but also in the years ahead.