Despite claims to containing prices of essential food items during holy month of Ramazan, by the government, the prices of vegetables, fruits and grains have continued to soar upwards. The district administration has failed to control profiteering and hoarding, and seem helpless against the hoarders' mafia while the continuous price hike has added to the miseries of the already oppressed people.
Retailers and shopkeepers have been charging consumers with artificial rates in absence of any check by authorities concerned, while many vendors were not hanged official price list at their outlets. With the advent of holy month of Ramazan, the profiteers and hoarders had raised prices of all kind of daily use items by their own.
Though, the city district government had constituted a number of price control committee, under the administrators, to keep check on high prices and ensure official rates in local market. But, the officials' were not seen on site to control exorbitant prices of daily use. Many of outlets were not displayed official prices, clashes between consumers and vendors were also reported due to overpricing.
Residents of Peshawar have strongly protested against the district government for not taking steps against the price hike during the holy month of Ramazan. They accused that traders unions are joining hands for fleecing customers and the district administration is acting like a silent spectator. "No official price lists are hanged on the walls of shop and nobody is ready to start the process of accountability of price hikers", said Mehr Elahi, a buyer. He urged that district authorities to take concrete steps to face the negligence of these committees.
In a visit to local market by this scribe, it was noticed that the beef is available at Rs 300-320 against the official rate of Rs 220, chicken meat at Rs 200 per kg against fixed rate of Rs 175 per kg, wheat flour at Rs 55 against Rs 45 per kg. Vendors have charging different rates at a same market as tomato is available at Rs 40 and Rs 50 per kg, with various quality and sign, onion at Rs 40-50 per kg. Cabbage is available at Rs 40 and Rs 50 per kg, Tinda at Rs 30-40 per kg, cucumber Rs 30-40 per kg,
Similarly, the pulses of all ranges also being soled at against the official rate at many outlets in main Hashtnagri, Ashraf road, Karimpura, Guru Mandi, nishatarbad, and Faqirabad markets. Similarly, the Fruit is diet food in chilly weather, but the commodities prices also registered upward trend with advent of holy month of Ramazan.
When contacted the Deputy Commissioner Peshawar, Zaheerul Islam said that they had deputed more than 12 administrators to keep check, which randomly visiting all shoppers markets and bazaars. He said several hoarders and profiteers have so far arrested and charged with huge fine, and many of them, also jailed. "We will strictly implement official price list, and those vendors charge exorbitant, action would be taken against them, he assured. An official of district administration informed that the authorities had already constituted multiple price control committees and these committees are working with full zeal and zest.
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