SWABI: The prices of vegetables and fruits have been increased manifold in the district ahead of Eidul Azha as the vendors are charging the buyers according to their free will.

A visit to the markets in the district headquarters and tehsil headquarters revealed that the traders of vegetables and fruits increased the prices during the last few days.

“The last two days would be the days of the traders to charge people according to their well. We can earn a lot and the affluent class can hardly question the prices,” said a leading trader in the main bazaar of Swabi.

The price of tomato has jumped from Rs200 per five kilogram to Rs350 per kilogram. The rate of ladyfingers has been increased from Rs40 per kilogram to Rs50 per kilogram, cucumber from Rs30 per kilogram to Rs50, onion from Rs200 per five kilograms to Rs270 and potato from Rs100 per five kilograms to Rs150 while the price of brinjal has been increased from Rs30 per kilogram to Rs50 per kilogram.

Official says violators of pricelist will be fined

The prices of fruits have also been hiked in the district. The good quality of apples which were available at Rs180 per kilogram a week ago can hardly be bought now at Rs240. The price of per dozen bananas has been increased from Rs80 to Rs150.

Abdul Qayyum, a resident of Maneri, this scribe that it was the responsibility of the government to keep an eye on traders during the Eid days. He said that fruit and vegetable vendors shouldn’t be allowed to exploit people.

“The prices of vegetables and fruits should be controlled by the district administration. The officials of TMAs should not remain silent,” said Ahmad Ali of Swabi city.

The officials of the district administration, when contacted, said that they would raid the markets and prices of the commodities would be checked. “Those who violate the pricelist would be fined,” said an official.

WORKERS’ SALARY: The workers of Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate (GAIE) have said that they have not been paid the salary of the current month which will spoil their Eid.

They said that they didn’t know to celebrate Eidul Azha without getting the salary. “Our families are perturbed as the officials have refused to pay us the salary for the month of September,” said a worker.

He added that entrepreneurs said that they could not afford to pay to the workers in advance.

The officials of the industrial units must apprise the employers about the weak financial position of the poor employees, said another worker.

Noor Mohammad Jadoon, president of Gadoon Labour Federation (GLF), when contacted alleged that the Gadoon industrialists were exploiting the workers.

Published in Dawn September 23rd, 2015

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