KARACHI: President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum Mian Zahid Hussain has said that the masses are waiting for real action against food mafia, and they are wondering why import of wheat and sugar was delayed for months which provided a golden opportunity to the profiteers to fleece the masses.

Lauding the move of the government to allow import of tomatoes and onions from Iran, he, however, said that all the steps against price hike have remained counterproductive, and, therefore, import of edible items from all the neighbouring countries should be allowed while import regime should be relaxed.

He said dozens of trucks loaded with these vegetables have arrived in Pakistan to discourage profiteers and bring prices down.

He said that the existing system has failed to deliver therefore a new price control mechanism should be implemented which is equally responsive to all the stakeholders.

He said that inflation cannot be controlled through meetings, tweets and claims at the talk shows as it requires full energies of the government to crush profiteers.

Fruit and vegetable markets should be properly monitored through a balanced and effective system and an action should be initiated against those who are involved in artificial price hike.

He said that the government should also think about the Utility Stores which have failed to provide relief to the masses while Sunday Bazaars and other such bazaars should be revived through administrative action.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020