POL prices' raise pushes up all commodities, services rates

Prices of essential commodities and other items have seen across-the-board increase after increase in petroleum products prices, according to a survey carried out by Business Recorder on Saturday. The traders have increased the prices of a number of items including milk, sugar, a wide range of spices, tea, crockery, garments, school uniforms, note-books, school-bags and home appliances.
During the survey it was observed that owners of private schools have also increased school fees by nearly 20 percent, and restaurant owners have increased prices of cooked food by 10 percent. Uzma Nazir, a private school administrator, told Business Recorder that due to the increase in prices of petrol, natural gas and electricity it was impossible for the school administration to retain the old fees. She added that they have increased the school fees by Rs 200 to Rs 300 for each student.
She said: "Last year, primary section fee was Rs 800 per student, which is now Rs 1000; middle section (from class sixth to eighth) we were charging Rs 1000 last year, and now Rs 1200; and for high section we have increased fee from Rs 1200 to Rs 1500 per student".
The milkmen in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have increased milk price by Rs 5 per kg--milk was being sold at Rs 60 per kg a week ago and now is being sold at Rs 65 per kg. Similarly, prices of all pulses--Maash, Mong, Gram, Lobia and Masoor-- have been increased by Rs 5 to 10 Rs per kg, traders told Business Recorder.
The producers of powder turmeric and chillies have also increased prices by Rs 20 per kg and Rs 25 per kg. Powder red chillies and turmeric are being sold at Rs 300 and Rs 325 per kg. The transporters, plying vehicles on long routes, have increased fares by 15 percent after the government jacked up prices of petroleum products. As per routine, the long route transporters have increased fares without getting permission from the concerned authority.
Transporters plying transport in the twin cities have not yet raised rates, but have threatened a wheel jam strike if the government does not reverse its decision to raise POL prices. The Survey noted that the sugar price has increased from Rs 3120 per 50 kg bag to Rs 3250 per 50 kg bag.
The trader are charging their own price of sugar as the commodity is being sold at three different prices--Rs 66 per kg, Rs 70 per kg and Rs 78 per kg. Furthermore, producers of branded spices like Shan Masalajat and 'National' have witnessed across-the-board increase in prices of different products by Rs 5. The producers of powder turmeric and chillies have also increased prices by Rs 20 per kg and Rs 25 per kg.
However, prices of most of the vegetables decreased during the week due to sufficient supply. Jameel Khan, a trader at fruit and vegetable market, sad that one month ago onions were being sold at Rs 40 per kg which are now being sold at Rs 15 per kg; tomatoes at Rs 30 per kg against Rs 50 per kg; potatoes Rs 18 per kg against Rs 30 per kg; and peas Rs 30 per kg against Rs 50 per kg.
In the survey it was also noted that after the increase in POL prices and imposition of GST the prices of clothing and footwear have increased. A good quality shoes were available at Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 before the imposition of GST, and are now being sold at Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,200. The rise in shoe prices was noticeable in companies like Service and Bata which have increased the price of their products by 10 to 20 percent.
People from different walks of life told Business Recorder that the government be urged to immediately withdraw price rise in POL. Nabeel Arshad, a student at Bahria University, suggested that instead of increasing POL prices the government should cut defence expenditure, eliminate corruption, privatise public sector entities like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to meet the increasing financial requirements of the government.