Tribesmen from Bajuar tribal agency have complained about exorbitant increase in prices of food items with advent of holy month of Ramazan, and asked the government to take action against profiteers and hoarders. According to consumers in markets of Khar Town, Sadiqabad, Inayat Kalley and Nawagi told that prices of vegetables, fruits, chicken, sugar and other daily use items have substantially increased with the beginning of the fasting month.
They complained the authorities concerned are reluctant to take action against hoarders and profiteers and failed to implement official rates of essential food items. Ahmed Khan of Sadiqabad town said prices of daily use items, especially fruits and vegetables, had increased by 40 per cent in the local markets during past five days. The consumers said the increase in rates of vegetables and fruits had eroded the purchasing power of poor people. They also accused the retailers of artificial price hike ahead of Ramazan.
The people criticised the political administration for not taking steps to control the price hike. They urged the administration to set up a committee to keep check on price hike in the region during the holy month. The people told that they did not know the causes of increased the prices of daily use items but the recent increase in the prices of such things caused financial problems for them.