The Punjab government had committed to give ‘relief’ to the citizens during the holy month of Ramzan by decreasing the overall prices of food items but the unchecked price hike have disappointed the citizens.
Despite the mugging of traders in the open markets, the price control committees remain silent over the escalated rates of food items.
The concern of high-ups for price control is confined only to Ramzan bazaars where poor quality of items is being sold at slightly low rates than the market. The retailers have increased the prices of milk, yogurt, meat, chicken and fruits and the helpless citizens are compelled to overbuy food items. The prices of packed milk have also been increased by the concerned companies without any justification which is more disappointing.
The government had fixed the prices of milk as Rs 70 per litre, yogurt for Rs 80 per kilogram, beef for Rs 325 per kg and mutton for Rs 625 per kg. The retailers have increased the prices at excessive rates. In open markets, milk is being sold for Rs 100 per litre, yogurt for Rs 110 per kg, beef for Rs 450 per kg and mutton for Rs 700 to Rs 750 per kg.
The prices of fruits, including apricots, plums, nectarines, apples and bananas are twice the prices fixed by the government. Mangoes, in particular, were sold for Rs 80 per kg before Ramzan which has inflated to Rs 140 during the fasting month. The fruits have in fact gone beyond the reach of the common man.
