ISLAMABAD
Prices of edible items, vegetables, fruit, gram flour and some pulses have gone up by 30 per cent-40 per cent with arrival of Ramadan in Pakistan. This overnight increase in the prices of these essential items by profiteers has multiplied woes of the poor daily wage earners, who are already facing hard times due to prevailing lockdown in the country.
Unfortunately, the government’s relevant departments have miserably failed to curb this rising trend in prices.
In Pakistan and India, traditionally Muslims break their fast with fruit, milk, lemonade, samosa, pakora and other traditional items at Iftaar. This turns into quite a festivity and all the family members sit together to break their fast or at least to participate in the ritual.
However, this year whereas coronavirus has affected the normal course of life forcing the people inside their homes, it has also put them in enormous financial constraints, particularly those who earn daily wages or have small incomes. Price hike in items of daily use has further added to their miseries.
In Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and other cities of Pakistan, there has been a sharp increase in prices. For example, apple (red) is being sold at Rs280 (Dh6.30) per kg. Before Ramadan it was Rs240 for one-kg.
Similarly, banana which is an essential ingredient of the Iftaar is being sold at Rs150 (Dh3.45) while a couple of days earlier its price was Rs120 per dozen.
Interestingly the government price list for banana is Rs95 for one dozen. Other fruit like guava being sold at Rs200 instead of Rs84, melon for Rs120 instead of Rs60, watermelon Rs85 instead of Rs50 and lemon Rs400 instead of Rs150.
In Islamabad, the district administration sent teams to a number of markets and imposed a total fine of Rs80,000 on 15 shops for violating the official prices. A total of 37 such shops were raided on Saturday, according to an official of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
On the other hand, the shopkeepers and vendors have blamed hoarders and whole sellers for this increase in the edible items, fruit and vegetables.
Farid, a vegetable vendor, told Gulf News that the wholesale dealers kept raising lemon prices on a daily basis and then one day before Ramadan it went missing from the market. Now its prices are up almost twice and poor people are forced to buy it because it is integral part of their Iftaar menu. Lahore District government too imposed a fine of Rs61,000 besides arresting seven vendors for profiteering.
In Karachi too prices of fruits, vegetables and poultry have gone up. Among fruits/vegetables, lemon is the most sought after and highly priced item being sold at the rate of RS 440 per kg. Similarly, the prices of apple have also been raised from Rs190 to Rs260 per kg. Among vegetables, potatoes and onions now cost Rs300 per 5kg weight. Earlier its price was Rs225 per 5-kg.
