The introduction of digital weights in markets across Karachi was supposed to craft a transparent mechanism of measuring goods. But ever since instituting digital weights, the Sindh government’s Weights and Measures Cell seems to have taken its eye off the ball: approximately 60-70 percent of the scales used in Landhi Babar Market, Malir Meat Market and Liaquat Market by fruits and vegetable sellers were either doctored or obsolete, as per a survey carried out by Pakistan Today.
“I have been working in the Landhi Babar Market for 15 years now, and I have never seen any official from any government department coming to the market to check shopkeepers’ weights,” argued a shop owner named Saleem, whose own scales had not been approved by the Weights and Measures Cell. Other shopkeepers claimed that after the introduction of digital weights, government inspectors have abandoned the practice of visiting the market.
“When the inspectors don’t come to check us, many are enticed into doctoring their weights,” another shopkeeper, requesting anonymity, told Pakistan Today. “If there is a problem with our weights, we simply go to Joria Bazar to buy new ones.” In the Malir Meat Market, shopkeepers narrated a different story: a person visits the market one day ahead of every Ramadan, and informs shopkeepers that he is there to check their weights – only if they want.
Those who get their weights checked are given a receipt by the person, which bears a repairing fee and a government fee. “Lots of shopkeepers do not use digital weights, since traditional weights can be artfully doctored. Going by the current price of meat, a shopkeeper can easily pocket 28 rupees from every 100 grams of meat,” a shopkeeper named Nadeem said. Sitting besides him was Zahid, who owned a stall nearby. “I bought weights six years ago for 500 rupees.
But in such inflation, how do I set aside money to buy weights?” he asked.In Liaquat Market, most shopkeepers had packed stones in plastic bags as a substitute for weights. “Some people stole our weights, perhaps because they can get good money for iron, but we cannot buy a whole new set if just one weight goes missing. We borrow a weight from a neighbouring shopkeeper, measure a stone with an equal mass, and get back to business,” said Jalal, another shopkeeper.
A fruit vendor, Nadir, boasted that his scales were approved by the government for 2011-2012, but nowhere was any stamp of approval embossed. Nadir explained that a person from Babu Scale Works visits the market to provide supplements, and takes shopkeepers’ scales and weights with him. After three to four days, he returns with the scales and weights after re-painting them and pasting a yearly renewal sticker. “There is no such thing as a government stamp on these scales,” Nadir said.
When Pakistan Today visited Babu Scale Works, two workers claimed that the owner had gone to the Empress Market to purchase scales. “We have different areas demarcated for renewal services, where we charge Rs 250 apiece; while charges differ from case to case when it comes to repairs,” they said. Last but not the least was a visit to office of the Weights and Measures Cell of the Sindh government – a set-up that works under the Agriculture Department.
The cell’s deputy controller rubbished Pakistan Today’s “delusion” that 60-70 percent weights and scales were doctored or obsolete, claiming instead that a team of inspectors regularly visits markets and “never has such a huge ratio of doctored scales been reported.”
The cell’s deputy controller explained that there were many authorized scale repairers in Karachi, who after tuning up scales, bring them to their office for certification. “There are digital scales in the market now which can’t be doctored,” he added.
Inspector Mazhar of the same department said that there are 12-15 inspectors who randomly visit markets in Karachi. He admitted, however, that after the introduction of digital scales, their work has been reduced. “We still visit markets for inspection, while about 100 license holders in Karachi bring scales to the Weights and Measures Cell to calibrate them according to the required standard,” he said.
