November 10, 2001	Saturday	Shaba’an 23, 1422

KARACHI, Nov 9: Consumers will have to pay higher prices for buying essential items in Ramazan, starting next week, even if the price regulators announce any cuts.

Wheat flour, gram pulse, black gram, gram flour (basin) and potato may cost more due to phenomenal price spiral ahead of Ramazan. However, some relief is expected in tea, sugar, ghee and cooking oil, arhar, onion, mash, maida and sooji.

District Coordination Officer (DCO), Shafiqur Rahman Paracha and retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers after reviewing stock situation will finalize the new price list for Ramazan on Saturday. The new price list is expected to be issued one or two days before the holy month.

Even if prices of essential items are cut by Rs2-4 per kg, the new rates will still be higher as compared to previous holy month.

For instance, the price of gram pulse is currently tagged at Rs40 per kg as compared to 30-32 per kg. Even if its price is slashed by Rs 2-4 per kg, it will still be costlier as compared to previous Ramazan.

Black gram (Kala Channa) price is now being quoted at Rs36 per kg as compared to previous Ramazan rate of Rs26-28 per kg. Basin No.1 is currently being sold at Rs36 per kg as compared to Rs29 per kg, while its No.2 quality can now be purchased at Rs28-30 per kg as against Rs26-29 per kg in last Ramazan.

Consumers will have some relief in white gram (Kabuli Channa), No.1 quality, as it is now being sold at cheaper rates of Rs 38- 40 per kg as compared to Rs 48 per kg while its No.2 quality is tagged at Rs 34 per kg as against Rs38 per kg. An expected price cut will provide a breather to consumers.

In ghee and cooking oil, the manufacturers have again applied their old tactics: raising the prices two to three months ahead of Ramazan and then slash them during Ramazan.

Dalda five kg tin is now being sold at Rs330 as compared to previous holy month’s price of Rs 305. Ghee prices are higher by Rs 15-25 per tin as compared to previous holy month but manufacturers are expected to cut rates by same amount just to provide benefits to the end users.

Loose ghee is currently being sold at Rs45 per kg as compared to Rs39 per kg fixed by the government. Its prices are expected to be fixed at lower side.

Atta No.2.5’s current price is Rs 11-12 per kg as compared to Rs 10 per kg. Price regulators will ask the millers to cut it down.

Masur is currently available at Rs36 per kg. Its price in last Ramazan was Rs30-32 per kg. Mung was available at Rs23-25 per kg and it is now being quoted at Rs 30 per kg. Mash prices are same at Rs40-44 per kg. Arhar is now priced at Rs32-33 per kg as compared to Rs36-38 per kg.

Sugar price is not fixed in Ramazan as its rates are determined on the daily basis keeping in view the demand and supply situations at the wholesale markets. It was being sold at Rs28 per kg in previous Ramazan. Currently, ample stocks situation have resulted in price fall to Rs22 per kg and retailers may agree to sale it at Rs 20-21 per kg in upcoming Ramazan.

In vegetables, consumers are expected to pay less to buy onion in this Ramazan as its prices now range between Rs6-7 per kg as compared to Rs10-12 per kg in Ramazan a year back. Vegetable dealers may further cut its prices as supplies from Sindh crop is satisfactory.

However, problems may occur in fixing potato price as it now hovers between Rs14-17 per kg in various markets. It was selling at Rs10-12 per kg in last Ramazan. With the new crop arrival in December its prices may stabilize in middle of Ramazan.

Prices of rice are almost same as compared to previous Ramazan.

Besides establishing Bachat Bazaars in various areas, the city government is likely to set up over 30 complaint centres . An official in Bureau of Supply and Prices said that the government was planning to seek cooperation of councillors and Nazims of 18 town associations to keep check on prices area wise because it is difficult to check prices of fruits and vegetables as vendors confuse buyers over the quality.

Market sources said that vendors are of the impression that they may fleece the consumers easily this time as there is no District Magistrate and SDMs to visit markets on regular basis as their post have been abolished under devolution plan last year.

It is seen that local government always takes decision in checking the prices when they reach beyond the affordable levels. If prices, stocks situation and hoarding are checked on monthly basis, the price regulators will have little difficulty in fixing the rates. Like past practice, meetings of government officials and market players this time had again been called two weeks before Ramazan.

Price hike in imported items like gram pulse seems unjustified as the rupee has gained its strength by 5.8 per cent against the dollar in the inter-bank market and 9.3 per cent in kerb market since September 11 debacle. This development has offset the negative impact of war risk levy of $7 per ton on imported items.

Wholesalers and retailers have been clamouring that there is no shortage of any commodity in the market. It is to be seen how they justify their stance in Saturday’s meeting.