FAISALABAD, Sept 27 Customers on a shopping spree at different markets of this textile capital of Pakistan have urged the government to form price control committees for non-food items, like food items in Ramazan, to stem the trend of profiteering as this menace has considerably reduced the purchasing power of the masses.

They said surging prices of foodstuff and non-food items, coupled with an extra burden of high rates of utility bills, have landed public in an outlandish situation, depriving them of even religious blessings. People expressed these words as this scribe approached them in various markets of Faisalabad on Thursday.

Asiya, who was on a shopping spree in the busy Anarkali Bazaar, told Dawn that just a few days before the Eid, we are still finding it difficult to purchase the basic necessities for this religious event as surging price-hike and profiteering have landed us in a difficult situation.

She said living standard of people has been going from bad to worse because of poverty, which is deplorable for a country known as a nuclear power.

She said prices of jewelry, clothes, shoes and edibles are skyrocketing and the situation has tumbled all Eid planning.

A married woman committed suicide in Chak 30-JB on Sept 23 as her husband reprimanded her over the shopping of new clothes. She took poisonous pills after quarreling with her husband, she added.

This reporter witnessed a traditional rush in various markets of Clock Tower bazaars, including Kutchary, Jhang, Bhawana and Chiniot bazaar, Sattiana Road, People`s Colony, Ghulam Mohammad Abad, Raza Abad, Madina Town, Mohammad Pura and other markets, but shopping activities were not good as shopkeepers had been expecting.

Long queues are being witnessed at garments, bangles, jewelry and artificial jewelry shops which have been illuminated with lights of different colours.

Faisalabad has thousands of powerlooms, dying, printing, spinning, sizing and hosiery units in which nearly 10 million labourers are employed.

Though the textile industry work-force is participating in strengthening the national economy, but nothing is being done to improve their lot, said Mohammad Aslam, a powerloom worker at Faizabad industrial area.

“In spite of the fact that I have no resources to celebrate this religious event with zeal and fervor, I cannot do go against the wishes of my children who pressed me hard for new clothes,” he said, adding “I borrowed Rs 2000 from my friend.” He said considering Eid a `constructive occasion`, the shopkeepers are charging extra which speaks volumes that how government is well aware to stem the trend of profiteering.

Secretary-general of Anjuman Tajran Faisalabad, Mehmood Alam, said the Marriott hotel blast deserted all major markets of the district. However, now situation is improving and people are thronging bazaars for shopping.

However, he said only well-off families were purchasing and poor were abstaining from purchasing even basic necessities owing to high prices.

He said that price-hike and increase in utility rates have been creating a plethora of problems for masses, particularly under-privileged segments of society.

Mr Mehmood said that shopkeepers were expecting handsome sale during few days ahead of Eid, otherwise, they had to face financial losses.