Prices of Ramazan-specific, other items rise

The prices of an entire range of essential commodities and Ramazan-specific items increased manifold during the first week of Ramazan, according to a survey carried out by Business Recorder on Saturday. The survey noted around 50 percent difference between the current prices of various items in comparison to last year's Ramazan.
Last year, normal quality dates were available at Rs 120 per kg, which currently are available at Rs 200 per kg; last year, Pakoras were being sold at Rs 120-140 per kg, which now are available at Rs 160-180 per kg; besan one of the most used item in Ramazan last year was available at Rs 80 per kg, which now is being sold at Rs 120-140 per kg.
According to BR survey, the price rise is a reflection of a rise in price of inputs for example price of cooking oil/ghee has increased by Rs 50 per kg against the price prevalent last year during Ramazan. Although some ghee producers have announced special Ramazan prices on their products, traders especially retailers are not passing on this benefit to the common man. Cooking oil/ghee producers like Habib, Dalda, Sufi, Mezan and Kashmir have reduced the price of their product by Rs 15-20 per kg, while retailers are selling these brands to consumers at higher prices. A five kg tin of Dalda cooking oil/ghee originally cost Rs 950 but the company reduced its price by Rs 90 for the month of Ramazan and the BR team did not find a single shopkeeper selling it at the reduced rate.
Muhammad Nasir Khan, a customer, said that as far as consumer law and market committees along with consumer protection right bodies are concerned, everything is on the books but these bodies as well as local administration have miserably failed to protect the rights of the consumers.
The price of chicken recorded an increase of Rs 20 per kilogram. Mutton is being sold Rs 30 higher - the earlier Rs 520 to Rs 550 per kg and beef is being sold at Rs 280 to Rs 320 per kg in local market. According to shopkeepers, load shedding is reducing the output of chickens. They further said that chicken demand surged in Ramazan therefore its price is going up. But they also acknowledged that poor price control mechanism was another factor in the price rise.
Shortage of sugar was witnessed at utility stores and consumers were unable to purchase sugar at the government promised rate. According to the utility store officials, sugar and ghee supply is very low; therefore shortage is observed. They urged the government to enhance the supply so that people could get food items at subsidised rates.
Milkmen have increased the price of milk and yoghurt by Rs 5 per kg. Last week milk was available at Rs 65 per kg and yoghurt at Rs 70 per kg, which with the advent of Ramazan are being sold at Rs 70 per kg and Rs 75 per kg respectively.
Different people talking to Business Recorder gave different reasons for the price hike. Some argued that price of petroleum products along with other utilities have increased manifold over the year, which have compelled the traders to increase prices.
Nazir Khan a shopkeeper said that during the month people increase the use of above mentioned items, which creates demand supply gap and resultantly the prices of these items go up. He further said that no check on price charged by the private sector is also a major reason for the massive increase in the price of kitchen items during Ramazan.
In the jurisdiction of Rawalpindi Punjab government has established 18 Sasta-Bazaars where daily use items are available at subsidised rates and a large number of people are taking advantage of these Sasta-Bazaars, where special magistrates are keeping an eye on the profiteers. During the week under review prices of most of the essential kitchen items including flour, sugar, cooking-oil/ghee, vegetables, fruits and chicken, beef and mutton have shown an upward trend.
Flour and sugar prices registered an increase of Rs 4 each per kg. Flour was available at Rs 29 per kg against previous price of Rs 25 per kg. Similarly sugar was available at Rs 75 against previous price of Rs 71-72 per kg. Fruits prices registered a significant increase during the week due to increase in gap between supply and demand. Apple was available at Rs 160 per kg against last week of Rs 150. Mango was available at Rs 100 per kg, banana at Rs 80 per dozen, peach at Rs 80 per kg and cantaloupe (garma) at Rs 60 per kg against previous week's prices of Rs 80, Rs 60, Rs 50 and Rs 40 per kg respectively.
Vegetables prices registered mixed trend as some prices declined while others increased. Tomato was available at Rs 60, potato at Rs 45, arvi at Rs 50 and red chilli at Rs 350 against previous prices of Rs 45, 40, 40, and Rs 320 respectively.