The prices of different brands of ghee has started declining in the local market and the price hike-hit people have started receiving the much awaited relief by the government. The decision to decrease the price of the commodity was taken after holding consultation with Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA).
As a result, the price one-kilogram ghee was reduced from Rs 120-Rs 140 to Rs 98. The manufacturers had started supplying ghee to the market at the price agreed with the government.
However, the grocery shops in the city and far away from the whole sale markets are still selling the commodity at the exorbitant price of Rs 130 per kilogram. "The fall of price of palm oil in the international market has started benefiting the price hike-stricken people," said Anwar Khan, a dealer of the ghee at New Rampura Gate Market here.
Anwar Khan, who is running the distribution agency of Kisan Ghee, said that the price of the palm oil in the international market was consecutively on the decline since last two months. He said that one month back, the price of 16-kilogram Balti of Kisan ghee was Rs 2,090, but now it had fell to Rs 1,710, showing a decrease of Rs 380. Similarly, he said that the price of five-kilogram, Fauji ghee which was selling at Rs 585 had now fixed at Rs 385.
Similarly, he said that the price of Shama brand ghee was Rs 1,860 per 16-kilogram tin on November 1, had registered a decrease of Rs 150 and was available at Rs 1,710. He was, however, critical of the role of the government in controlling the price of the essential commodities. The government, he suggested, should leave the fixation of the prices of the essential food items on the market situation.
He alleged that the government was selling the commodity at high price than the price prevailed in the open market, saying that the government was supplying ghee to the state-run Utility Store Corporation (USC) at Rs 98 per kilogram, which, he said, was being sold at Rs 80 in the open market. Anwar Khan urged the government to keep check on the grocery shops to enable the common man to buy the commodity at the lower price.
Haji Shah Wali Khan, the distributor of Shama ghee, said that the price of the brand had registered a fall of Rs 150 per 16-kilogram tin in just one-day. He said that the price of 16-kilogram tin had decreased from Rs 1,750 to Rs 1,600. The commodity, he said was now easily available at Rs 100 per kilogram, while the ex-mill rate was Rs 98 per kilogram.