‘Even in Ramadan they have no shame!’

With the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, the rates of daily use items have sky-rocketed while the profiteers and hoarders seem to be looking to gain the maximum benefit from the people’s helplessness. The prices of essential commodities had already gone up to the sky before the start of Ramadan. Vegetables, fruits and all the basic commodities have witnessed 25 percent to 50 percent increase in their prices, increasing the burden on the troubled common man. Traditionally, only the prices of fruits and vegetable go up before Ramadan but this time, prices of more than 25 daily commodities like sugar, rice, pulses, chicken, beef, mutton, vegetables and fruit prices have also shot up. Like every year, the price control system of city district government appears to have failed in controlling the prices. The price lists issued by the local administration seems a showpiece in the shops since the shopkeepers are not following the prescribed rate lists on the one pretext or the other. The wholesalers and retailers, particularly of fruits and vegetables, are enjoying a freehand and are fleecing the consumers in the holy month despite the tall claims of the authorities concerned. Even the price of sugar has gone up by Rs 2 to 3 rupees per kg. Dates are available from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per half kg while chicken is being sold at around Rs 360-380 per kg. Gram is regularly used in Ramadan for making pakoras for Iftar and its price has soared to Rs 110 to 130 per kg. Yogurt is being sold at Rs 75 to Rs 90 while one litre of milk costs Rs 65 to Rs 75. The prices of most of vegetables including potato, onion, ginger, ladyfinger, cauliflower, black pepper, lemon and cabbage registered an increase. Similarly, the prices of apple, grapes, banana, mango, melon and other fruits have also. The shoppers complained that “it is a yearly routine that before the start of Ramadan, the shopkeepers increase the prices of fruit and vegetables which is unwarranted and against the spirit of Islam.” Sameer Khan, a resident of Shamsabad, Rawalpindi said that the price hike had made it impossible for the common man to run his kitchen. “Even in Ramadan they have no shame,” he added. However, shopkeepers were of the view that they had nothing to do with price hike and contended that the prices had increased in the wholesale market. Prices also remained very high at the so-called ‘low-price’ Sunday bazaars. A similar increase has been seen in the prices of kitchen items, the prices of which have been on the rise since the last three weeks. The consumers complained that Sasta Bazaars could only be useful if prices were checked by the administration and stern action taken against the profiteers. “A price increase before the holy month and in Ramadan has become a hallmark in our society,” said a customer Altaf. He said prices were increasing since the last two weeks and nobody had taken steps to control them. He said, “Hoarders were active and the city and provincial administration appears helpless before them.” As many as 35 fair shops and four sasta bazaars set up in capital by Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration with the purpose to proving edible and foods item to the citizens at cheaper rates. ICT administration claimed that the rates of food items at fair shops and sasta bazaars were lower than the rates of weekly bazaars and markets. The administration has notified rate lists to all the stall holders and shopkeepers for display. The magistrates have also started checking prices in the Sasta Ramazan Bazaars and markets on daily basis. So far, a total fine of Rs 35,570 has been imposed on the profiteers for not displaying food rate lists.