City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has failed to control prices of food items, as shopkeepers are overcharging customers. Enterprise and Investment Promotion (E&IP) Department of CDGK released price list of food items including cereals, rice, spices, tea, dry fruits and other edible items on November 15, 2010 and directed concerned officials to ensure sale of the items on the notified prices.
The department had also directed DDOs Revenue to set up and make operational the existing complaints' centres in their areas to ensure checking of prices. The department had warned that strict actions in terms of fine would be taken under law against the shopkeepers violating the notified price list and violators can also be sent jail if required.
But despite these instructions and warnings, shopkeepers are not following the notified prices and overcharging customers. Asad Malik, a resident of F.B. Area, told Business Recorder that due to the exorbitant price hike life of common man had become miserable.
Huma Khan, a housewife, said that no one was providing relief to the people and the prices of food items were increasing day by day. How a common man would spend money on other necessities of life like medicines and education of children if monthly income does not even cover complete household items, she added.
However, shopkeepers are putting the blame on wholesalers, saying that the wholesalers are supplying the commodities on higher prices due which they are unable to sale the item on the CDGK notified prices. A shopkeeper, Zameer Ali, said that the wholesalers were not following the prices list of CDGK and selling food items on higher prices. If the purchasing price from the wholesalers is higher than the notified prices then how can a retailer sell items on the given rates, he added.
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