The prices of un-packaged milk and yogurt have been increased by Rs 5 to Rs 10 in the city and cantonment areas.
The daily milk consumption especially in summers increases manifold including demand of packaged and un-packaged milk and yogurt. Earlier, the unpacked milk was being sold at Rs 60 to 65 per kilogram and yogurt on Rs 65 to 70 but now the rates have been increased by Rs 5 to Rs 10 in the city and cantonment markets. According to a survey conducted in this regard by APP, the milkmen have unilaterally started selling milk at shops on increased rates. Some vendors who claimed that they sold only pure milk have also been fleecing by charging exhorbitant rates.
It is pertinent to mention here that there is no proper price control system in the city as the milkman like suppliers of other commodities particularly of daily use items have been given a free hand and the departments concerned are taking no appropriate action in accordance with the law. The shopkeepers are fleecing the customers by charging exorbitant rates of their products. Milkmen representative Mushtaq said that revision of prices was a dire need of the hour in wake of spiralling price hike on all fronts. We have demanded Rs 5 to Rs 10 increase, which has yet to be agreed by the city district government, he added.
Tariq, a resident of Peoples Colony Tench Bhatta said that milk and yogurt, being necessities of life, were already too expensive and an increase in prices would make them out of the reach of common man. The citizens criticized the increase in milk prices, asking the authorities concerned to intervene into the matter to save them from profiteers.