Setting aside the CDGK, the Sindh government on Friday finalised a new price list of essential commodities in consultation with wholesalers, agreeing on five percent reduction in prices. Sindh Minister for Bureau of Supply and Prices Shoaib Bukhari approved the new price list in a meeting with wholesalers.
According to sources, wholesalers had called upon the Sindh government to finalise a new price list for Ramazan, which will be the third since the holy month has begun. But, the Sindh government's un-needed involvement has pushed the city government out of the whole affair.
There was also another meeting of the city government scheduled for same day with the commodity traders, which was later cancelled because the price list had already been finalised. Retailers see the new price list as technically-manipulated with the aim of benefiting wholesalers as much as possible. While on the other hand wholesalers do not consider the retailers' concerns, saying that they have done their job alone.
Although, the Sindh government has reset the retail sugar price at Rs 47 per kg, the commodity is unavailable at official rates in the city. Retailers say they have purchased the commodity at Rs 50 and Rs 52 per kg from wholesale market. For poultry prices, a 10 percent reduction was announced by the Pakistan Poultry Association. The government will enforce the price list from Saturday, August 29.