November 16, 2002

Islamabad: Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) has expressed its concerns over increase in prices of various essential items during Ramazan. A survey conducted by CRCP revealed that despite the lapse of more than ten days of Ramazan, the alarming increase in prices of essential items continues to further cut the purchase capacity of the poor. CRCP termed the Ramazan relief packages announced by various district governments as "meaningless in view of consistent upward price of essential items."

While commenting on the market trend during the current Ramazan, CRCP Secretary General Mian Abrar Hafeez said that there was no check on unethical market practices such as price hikes, artificial shortage of food articles and sale of substandard items in this Ramazan like the earlier ones. Reviewing the overall situation in major cities during first ten days of Ramazan, he told that on the average, Karachi witnessed 20-30 percent increase in prices of selected vegetables, 10-15 percent in fruit, and about 14 percent in meat. In Attock district, the retailers had increased prices of some vegetables by 15-20 percent, meat 5-20 percent, and eggs 9-10 percent. In Peshawar, the ghee became dearer by about 15-20 percent. A random survey conducted by CRCP team in the first week of Ramazan in Islamabad unveiled that prices had increased at utility stores as well. For instance, a 20 kg flour bag was being sold at Rs.192, whereas their price pre-Ramazan price was Rs.189. Similarly, the price of 1 kg average quality rice was up by Rs. 3. In open market, the price of sugar had increased by about Rs. 1.50 per kg. In Faisalabad and Sialkot, an artificial shortage of wheat flour was witnessed. Moreover, sale of substandard food items was also reported in Ramazan bazaars in major cities. This trend proffers an indicative value to estimate the overall market situation all over the country, CRCP said.

Mian Abrar Hafeez, while deliberating on Ramazan relief package, said that the government had not announced any relief package through cut in prices of essential items at utility stores contrary to the previous practice. Although some government officials announced that there will be 10-15 percent cut in prices of items at utility stores, but nothing happened. When CRCP contacted the management of utility stores, it was told that the government had not announced any relief package for customers of utility stores. Regarding the holding of sasta bazaars announced by various district governments, CRCP secretary general appreciated that food authorities had put a partial control on prices in these bazaars, but it did not represent the actual situation. He said, the government has not gone beyond jawboning and mere announcements. The teams constituted to check the menace of price hikes during Ramazan have failed to effectively perform their functions. The retailers continue to fleece the customers at will. He emphasized that the government needs to devise a comprehensive strategy to check the ever-increasing price hikes and monitor the quality of goods.