RAWALPINDI: The district administration of Rawalpindi has failed to control prices of edibles in the open market as shopkeepers are fleecing consumers without any check.

The local residents say price magistrates and assistant commissioners were not properly monitoring bazaars leaving the consumers with no other option but to purchase edibles at higher rates.

Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha had asked the district administration to bring down prices of edibles after the recent reduction in petroleum prices. Last Monday, the commissioner had given the deadline of 48 hours to the district administration to provide relief of the citizens in the wake of the reduction in petroleum prices. However, there has been no progress on the implementation of the direction.

Under the law, the government is responsible for ensuring availability of edibles, including vegetable oil, sugar, wheat flour, grams, meat, Roti, milk, curd and fruits at reasonable prices in the open market through the local administration.

The local administration issued a price list of edibles and it is the duty of price magistrates to ensure the officially-fixed prices are followed in the open markets.

But, apparently, traders have been given a free hand as they are not following the price lists. It has been observed that good quality food items are sold at high prices while low quality items are offered to consumers at rates fixed by the district administration.

“The prices of food items increased in the market soon after a surge in petroleum prices but after a week the prices of edibles did not come down. Milk price has further gone up in the market,” said Mohammad Akram, a resident of Mohanpura.

Sher Ali, a visitor to Gawalmandi market, said prices of engine oil for motorcycles and cars had increased soon after the hike in POL charges but when petrol became cheaper the sellers did not reduce the prices of the engine oil.

He said the prices of chicken had increased last month with poultry dealers claiming a hike in chicken feed that was imported. But the dollar’s value against the rupee decreased but there was no reduction in the price of chicken.

Waseem Ahmed, a resident of Usmanpura, said that the prices of pulses like red beans and chickpeas increased manifold and vegetables were also selling at high prices. “It is difficult for people to manage their household budget,” he said.

Raja Iqbal, a resident of Misrial Road, said that wheat flour was available at the rate of Rs160 per kg, milk at Rs220, sugar at Rs160 per kg.

“Chicken is available at Rs330 per kg and eggs at Rs325 per dozen and in this situation how can we manage our kitchen budget,” he said.

He said milk and yogurt prices had increased and there was no authority to check the quality of edibles in the market.

When contacted, Rawalpindi Merchant Association Chairman Saleem Pervaiz admitted that there was no reduction in prices of edibles.

“We are getting red beans at Rs600 per kg, wheat flour of 20 kg bag at Rs2,800. The rates of pulses are also high in the whole sale market and we cannot sell it at lower prices,” he said.

“The prices of food items will reduce when there will be a cut in diesel price,” he claimed.

“Cooking oil price in the whole sale market is Rs2750 per five-kg pack. After devaluation of the dollar against the rupee, the prices of cooking oil and pulses should have come down. It is the duty of the government to force industrialists to reduce the prices,” he said.

He said the district administration should make efforts to talk to main dealers and industries to reduce the prices after decrease in petroleum prices instead of harassing shopkeepers.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2023