E&IP fails to control soaring price-hike

KARACHI - Prices of essential items including milk, bread, fruits, vegetables, flour, rice, oil and other commodities have started witnessing an unprecedented surge ahead of the holy month of Ramadan but concerned departments of the Sindh government and CDGK failed miserably to control the alarming situation.
At present, milk is being sold at Rs 40 to 45 per litre across the city and the sellers have already informed the customers that the price would reach Rs 50 per litre during Ramadan.
The retailers said that CDGK magistrates could not prevent wholesalers from increasing the prices and are making false claims in this regard only to satisfy Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal. They alleged that corrupt elements in the Enterprise and Investment Promotion (E&IP) only take action against retailers which is useless exercise, who are not responsible for price-hike, a group of milk sellers said.  
When contacted repeatedly, EDO E&IP, Shahab Imam, was not available to comment on the situation. It was learnt that he had banned district officers (DOs) of the E&IP from talking to the newsmen regarding recent surge in the prices of commodities.
When contacted, DO price control also refused to give his version on the price-hike. However, he tried to contact the EDO Shahab Imam on his cell phone to get the permission to talk to the newsmen on this issue but got no response.