No fruit chaat on the menu

The beginning of Ramadan brings blessings and happiness. People try to estbalish a spiritual link with the Almighty. It is customary in many cities in Pakistan that people bring samosas, kachorees and the seasonal fruits for iftar. But, unfortunately, prices of these goods increases aso soon as the month of Ramadan begins and this upward spiral continues throughout the month. Figures tell that the prices of fruits increase by 30 to 40 percent and they will keep on increasing until Eid-ul-fitar. Even after that, these prices seldom come down again.
Ramadan is a month of blessings and while the government should take special measures to keep the prices of goods at a steady level, it is usually unable to check the exploitative practices of hoarding and profiteering during this month.
The government never takes action against those who try to create an artificial shortage of fruits in the market which results in inflation. The hoarders and suppliers stock the goods that create an artificial shortage in the market and the result is price hike. They reap extraordinary profits in this holy month of Ramadan which is totally illegitimate.
Even people of the middle class can ill-afford to buy fruit couretsy this inflationary trend and illegal practices of the sellers. Take banansa as an example which used to be 60 to 80 rupees per dozen but are now selling 150 to 200 rupees per dozen. Similar is the case of mangoes: they are now-a-days 100 to 120 rupees in the market but previously were 50 to 60 rupees. A sharp rise in prices of apple, grapes, peaches and guava has been noticed and now a common man cannot afford to buy such expensive fruits. It is just the elite that can now afford these fruits a sthey are fast becoming luxuries. It seems that a simple plate of fruit chaat will now cast one thousand bucks.
I wonder what the government is doing. Most of these fruits are grown commonly in Pakistan; yet their prices are os high as if they were some exotic breed imported from European countries. Fruit chaat has been a regular item in our Ramadan meals but an unexpected price hike has wreaked havoc with the budget of the the lower and middle classes and, unfortunately, many families have dropped this item from their menu due to one particular reason i.e. unprecedented inflation.
Even though the government should try to check the illegal practices of profiteering and hoarding thoruhgout the year, it should take extra steps during this month when a majority of the people are fasting. Maybe, it could set up a complait cell or set up special task committee to monitor different markets and price trends. Ramadan bazaars ae often set up but they are usually of no help.
It’s the responsibility of the government to keep a check on the prices of goods and make sure that no monopolies or cartels are formed which affects the purchasing power of the poor class. All we can do is hope for the best and must not expect any miracles from an inept administration.
SYED MUHAMMAD ABUBAKER
Lahore