SWAT: As the holy month of Ramazan approaches, markets across the Swat district are witnessing a significant surge in prices, leaving residents grappling with the burden of increased expenses.

Daily use commodities, especially vegetables and fruits, have experienced notable price hikes, eliciting widespread concern among consumers.

Previously, vegetables such as tomatoes were priced at Rs120 per kilogramme, but now the cost has soared to Rs180 per kg. Peas, once priced at Rs120 per kg, have seen a sharp increase to Rs200 per kg. Prices of okra, onions and turnips have also experienced substantial spikes.

Similarly, fruits have not been spared the price surge. Bananas, which were previously available at Rs100 per dozen, are now being sold at Rs250 per dozen. The price of apples has surged from Rs200 to Rs350 per kg.

Ask authorities to crack down on profiteers

Expressing their dismay over the price hike, residents urged the district administration to take necessary action against the profiteers. They called for the implementation of official price list to regulate the market and protect consumers from exploitation.

“The sudden increase in prices has made it difficult for us to manage our household expenses,” said Fatima Khan. “It’s unfair that we have to bear the brunt of such price hikes, especially during Ramazan when expenses are already high.”

Ali Ahmed echoed similar sentiments, stating, “The district administration must step in and ensure that fair prices are maintained in the markets. It’s unjust to burden the common people with exorbitant prices for basic necessities.”

Meanwhile, residents in Khyber district rejected the official price list of essential commodities, especially edibles, prior to Ramazan, arguing that most of items were out of their financial resources.

The district administration had only recently fixed prices of a number of food items, including mutton, beef, chicken, minced meat, vegetables, fruits, oil and ghee, different pulses, rice, flour and its different products.

Most of the consumers in Bara, Jamrud and Landi Kotal argued that the new price list would benefit the shopkeepers instead of providing any monetary relief to them during Ramazan.

They said prices of most edibles were increased in total ‘disregard’ to sentiments of consumers.

Gul Zameen, a Jamrud resident, said prices of most of the essential items were out of their reach as shopkeepers were given a ‘free hand’ to fleece the customers.

He accused the shopkeepers of unilaterally increasing prices ahead of Ramazan while caring little about the official price list, which was also not acceptable to majority of consumers.

Sarfaraz Khan, another resident, termed the official price list as an ‘official certificate’ to shopkeepers to charge customers at their own sweet will. He demanded of the district administration to immediately review the price list.

The district administration on its part insisted the new price list was devised after a thorough survey of the existing market prices of different essential commodities, mostly in demand during the fasting month.

In Lakki Marwat, the district administration fined scores of traders for fleecing people in the city bazaars on Sunday.

Taking notice of public complaints, assistant commissioner Yasir Nazir visited bazaars in Lakki city, and found shopkeepers violating the official price list.

He found that the price list was not available at several shops, and hygiene condition was poor at others.

Mr Yasir also checked quality of food items and imposed fines on traders selling expired items.

On the occasion, some buyers told the assistant commissioner that they had bought items at higher rates than those reflected in the official price list.

The assistant commissioner asked the traders to adhere to official rate list, or face fines and imprisonment.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2024