The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), an apex body of chambers and traders in the country, on Friday urged all traders, businessmen and vendors not to overcharge people during the holy month of Ramazan.
President FPCCI, senator Haji Ghulam Ali and Vice-President Saarc CCI, Iftikhar Ali Malik in a joint statement said that all chambers and all affiliated trade bodies and organisations must constitute committees to monitor prices in their respective areas and businessmen indulged in overcharging be taken to task without any discrimination.
Ghulam Ali said that the Quran and our law of land prohibits profiteering and hoarding for the purpose of selling at higher prices. He said, "We all are Muslims and the Quran and Sunnah is a complete code of life which must be practised in letter and spirit. We all must seek guidance from the Quran and Sunnah for success in every sphere of life."
He asked the business community especially small vendors and shopkeepers to get only marginal profit from people in the holy month of Ramazan and in return Allah will bless their business with bounties which would continue to flourish.
Iftikhar Ali Malik made a passionate appeal to businessmen to sell only best quality products at reasonable prices and offer special discount throughout the holy month.
He said that businessmen should sell their products through genuine "grand sale" on the pattern of western countries where all items were sold even upto 80 percent less than the actual price on the occasions of Christmas and New Year.
He said businessmen must provide an opportunity to the poor segment of society to fast comfortably and ensure their full participation in celebrating Eid by selling items on no-profit, no-loss basis.