LAHORE - Expressing concerns over government’s failure in controlling price hike, Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan of the Lahore High Court Wednesday asked the Lahore district coordination officer to present recommendations and mechanism in written to control high prices by July 16.
“Despite giving subsidy in Ramzan Bazaars, government had badly failed to overcome price hike as the subsidy is being swallowed by the big fish and mafia,” remarks Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan.
Justice Khan further remarked that poor people had to travel miles to get a relief of Rs10 because they complained that the government unable to control price hike.
District Coordination Officer Usman appeared before the court and said that the government was taking effective steps to control prices at Ramazan Bazaars and raids had been conducted on shops against artificial price hike and heavy fines had also been imposed on the violators.
Judicial Activism Penal through Advocate Azhar Siddique had filed a petition and told the court that prices of essential food items were doubled every year before the holy month of Ramazan.
Similarly, the petitioner said, the hoarders continued hoarding to affect the prices of daily used items. The petitioner said that every thing including vegetables and fruits were out of the reach of a common man. He prayed the court to direct the government to control prices of essential food items, especially, in the month of Ramazan. On Tuesday, a persuasive reply was not submitted in the court. As this, the judge directed the DCO to appear in person to submit reply that why the district government failed to control prices.
Although the provincial government set up special price control squads, the unholy business of inflation has been in full swing since the beginning of Ramazan.
The price lists issued by the district administration seems a showpiece in the shops, as the shopkeepers are not following the prescribed rate list on one pretext or the other. The wholesalers and retailers, particularly of fruits and vegetables, are enjoying a freehand and are fleecing the consumers in the holy month despite the tall claims of the authorities concerned.
The profiteers increased the prices of essential items including dates, fruit, vegetables, milk, yogurt, Pakoras, Samosas, sugar, rice, tomatoes, potatoes, onion, green chilly, garlic, ginger, mutton, beef, chicken, butter and pulses by 40 to 200 per cent. The consumers have accused the government of backing the hoarders and profiteers while the shopkeepers said wholesalers are selling goods at high rates.
Although the provincial government set up special price control squads, the unholy business of inflation has been in full swing since the beginning of Ramazan.
The price lists issued by the district administration seems a showpiece in the shops, as the shopkeepers are not following the prescribed rate list on one pretext or the other. The wholesalers and retailers, particularly of fruits and vegetables, are enjoying a freehand and are fleecing the consumers in the holy month despite the tall claims of the authorities concerned.
The profiteers increased the prices of essential items including dates, fruit, vegetables, milk, yogurt, Pakoras, Samosas, sugar, rice, tomatoes, potatoes, onion, green chilly, garlic, ginger, mutton, beef, chicken, butter and pulses by 40 to 200 per cent. The consumers have accused the government of backing the hoarders and profiteers while the shopkeepers said wholesalers are selling goods at high rates. Separately, during a survey conducted by The Nation in different areas of Rawalpindi, it was observed that the price of potato has gone up by Rs20 to 30 per kg as the commodity is being sold at Rs80 to 90 per kg.
Dates are available from Rs200 to Rs350 per kg while chicken is being sold at around Rs160-170 per kg. Bananas are being sold Rs200 to 250 per dozens, apple at Rs250 per kg, peach at Rs250 per kg, apricot at Rs400 per kg, onion at Rs50 per kg, watermelons are being sold at Rs 30 per kg, tomato at Rs60 per kg, mutton is available at Rs680 t0 740 per kg while beef is being sold at Rs340 per kg. The price of Pakoras has been soared to Rs240 to 280 per kg and Samosas at Rs180 to 200 per dozen. Yogurt is being sold at Rs85 to Rs90 while one litre of milk costs R 85 to Rs 95.
The prices of most of vegetables including onion, ginger, ladyfinger, cauliflower, black pepper, lemon and cabbage registered an increase. Similarly, the prices of grapes, mango, melon and other fruits have also been jacked up.