Sasta bazaars: vendors selling items at higher prices

The prices of fruit, vegetables and other food items at Sasta bazaars are still beyond the purchasing power of the general public. Despite tall claims of the Commissioner Karachi about stabilising the prices, a visit to different Sasta bazaars on Tuesday revealed that the vendors at these bazaars are not only violating the official price list but also selling low quality edibles. People are compelled to buy substandard food items, as the good quality edibles are being sold at very high prices.
It was observed that the prices remain low in the morning, but in the afternoon before Maghrib prayers the vendors start selling the same items at higher prices. The fruit sellers were found to be taking advantage of the high demand, as the fruit consumption doubles during the month of Ramazan. Bananas which were available at Rs 120 per dozen last week, are now being sold at Rs 200 per dozen. The prices of mangoes have been increased to Rs 180 to Rs 250 per Kg.
Pakistani apples are being sold at Rs 300 per kg while imported red apples are available at Rs 450 per kg. The prices of dates have also increased as compared to last week's and good quality dates are being sold at Rs 400 to 500 per kg while the prices of low quality dates range from Rs 200 to 300 per kg. The prices of vegetables including potatoes, onion, pumpkin, tomatoes and lady fingers have also increased considerably.
"Ramazan is the only month when fruit sellers start fleecing the people. They have no fear of God. If the government reduces the price of one commodity, the price of another is increased," Jahanzeb Khan, who came from Gulistan-e-Jauhar complained. A visitor said that the Ramazan bazaars had turned out to be looting grounds for the corrupt vendors who fleeced the people with both hands. One of the fruit sellers said that the prices of fruit were higher this year and that it was not them who had increased the prices.
Moreover, it was observed that the vendors in markets are also involved in cheating the consumers by not displaying the original price lists issued by the Price Control Committee. People complained that the hoarders were minting millions by creating false shortage of commodities and selling their items at sky-rocketed prices in the Holy month of Ramazan. A vegetable vendor, Kamran, questioned: "The rates of electricity, petrol and CNG have been increased. So, how do we keep the prices down as we also have to run our kitchens?"