The considerable reduction in prices of petroleum products has not led to any decline in fares by local transporters of the twin cities. The prices of petroleum products were decreased in accordance with a notification issued by Ogra on July 1.
According to the notification, HOBC price was slashed by Rs 6.44 to Rs 106.88 per litre, petrol by Rs 5.02 to Rs 84.49 per litre, kerosene oil by Rs 2.54 to Rs 86.25, HSD by Rs 2.48 to Rs 97.21 and light diesel oil by Rs 2.86 to Rs 83.71, effective between July 1 and July 15.
When Business Recorder contacted President of the local transport association, Sultan Awan, he said: "It is true that fares by local transporters of twin cities have been increased despite the decrease in POL prices. The reason behind the increase in fares is that the local Transport Association had not increased fares for the past two and half years (since February 9, 2010) while the price of petroleum products almost doubled during that period. We have made an increase of 2-20 percent in fares of local transport within the twin cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. These fares will not be reviewed or reduced now."
Fruit prices, too, are steadily rising daily irrespective of the fact that POL prices, with transport being a major cost of fruits and vegetables, were reduced considerably. The annual inflation went up to 11.01 per cent during the outgoing fiscal year 2011-12. The main contributor in the overall inflation remained food inflation which went up by 10 per cent.
It was noted during a survey conducted by Business Recorder that there was an average increase of Rs 20-25 in the price of fruits and vegetables against last month. Different qualities of fruits have different prices. For example medium-quality bananas that were being sold at Rs 150 per dozen last month are being sold at Rs 180 per dozen. Plums are being sold at Rs 80 per kg as compared to Rs 60-65/kg. Prices of apricots have increased from Rs 65 per kg to Rs 80-85. The average price of mangoes also increased by about Rs 15-20 per kg.
Of the total annual domestic agricultural production, Punjab contributed 59.6 percent, Sindh 8.6 per cent, Balochistan 25.6 per cent and NWFP contributed 6.2 per cent. The survey found that most of the shopkeepers and vendors are selling their commodities, including fruit and vegetables, to the customers at high prices, without displaying rate lists. Asiya Khan, who was visiting the fruit market at Aabpara stated: "I have five children and belong to the middle class. My husband is earning Rs 21,000 per month. You can imagine how difficult it is to meet costs of a family with just Rs 20,000. We cannot afford to buy expensive fruits. It is just once a month that my husband gives me Rs 300 to buy some fruits but what can be purchased with this small amount!"
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