Pakistani expatriates who have come here for the holidays obtained for Ramazan from the Gulf counties specially from Saudi Arabia have voiced their total dismay and disgust over the practices of local traders, retailers and the vegetable and fresh fruit traders who have gone for maximum profiteering during Ramazan, reports UPP correspondent.
"These people are bringing a bad name to Islam. This is also because the administration is not as effective as in the Gulf countries, said the expatriates. An expatriate Saeed Ahmed, who came three days ago from Saudi Arabia said that good quality grapes were selling in the local Saudi market for Saudi Riyal four to five per kilogram which at the current conversion rate works out to Rs 64 per kilogram.
But here retail grapes are being sold at Rs 100 and Rs 120 per kilogram. Pakistani expatriates felt that black marketing and profiteering be declared as a crime punishable with seven years minimum imprisonment. They said that government should also carry out quality check of all the daily use items including vegetables and fruits. They said that during Ramazan the prices of all daily use items should be reduced for the benefit of the consumers by ten to thirty percent, specially in edible items.
It a shame, they told UPP, that the traders are overcharging and fleecing the public. Many of the expatriates said that the government had not credibility at all in respect of its powers and authority to control prices" It is such inaction by the government that finally promotes hatred against the government and for its failure to curb the profiteers", they added.