ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has failed to implement the approved rate list by Islamabad Market Committee (IMC) of fruits and vegetables during the holy month of Ramzan and the shopkeepers of federal capital are charging extra on every item.
During visits to various fruit and vegetable shops in I-8, I-10, G-7, G-6, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-11 and other sectors of the federal capital, the vendors were found violating the rate lists provided to them by the IMC on daily basis.
The administration has fixed the price of apples at Rs175 per kg but the shopkeepers charging Rs250 to 285 per kg.
The rate of local banana on the list was Rs140 per dozen but the market price is about Rs200.
Similarly, water melon price was Rs30 per kg but the market rates was around Rs40, peach rate was Rs120 per kg while the vendors charging Rs200, mango price was Rs130 per kg while the market rate was Rs200 to 350 per kg.
Vegetables are also being sold at exorbitant prices.
According to the IMC approved rate list, onion price was Rs48 per kg while its market price was Rs65, tomato was Rs25 per kg while its market price was Rs40, lemon price was Rs245 per kg while its market price was Rs300 per kg, peas were Rs74 per kg while it was sold at Rs100.
Muhammad Hassan Mirza, a government servant who was purchasing vegetables from a shop in G-9 Markaz, said shopkeepers do not bother about the approved price list as they have raised the price of everything.
He said low income person cannot even think to purchase fruits in the holy month of Ramzan as the rates of fruits and vegetables are so high.
When contacted, an official in ICT administration said committees headed by a magistrate have been formed in Islamabad to conduct surprise visits to different sectors and check prices of the commodities.
Meanwhile, Islamabad market has announced price list of vegetables and fruits for the markets of the federal capital and asked the people to lodge complaints against the profiteers and hoarders.
The spokesman asked all the people to follow this list and inform the authorities at 051-4867762; 051-9108084 in case of any complaint against the shopkeepers.