KARACHI, Nov 23: Price regulators finally started prosecuting vendors and retailers, especially of fruits and vegetables, from Friday for overcharging and non-display of the official price list, but the desired results could not be achieved.
Officials of the Bureau of Supply and Prices (BSP) and of the Market Committee, who were deputed to check prices of essential items, went round various markets and prosecuted only 46 retailers for not displaying the price list and overcharging.
A senior BSP official told Dawn on Friday that at two markets of Bin Qasim area, Quaidabad and Gulshan-i-Hadeed, only five retailers had been identified.
Five markets, Jodia Bazaar, Burnes Road, Empress Market, Defence Market and Delhi Colony, fall under Saddar Town, where only nine vendors would be prosecuted for overcharging and non-display of the price list.
Only seven retailers were spotted at Sector 10 Market which comes under Orangi Town. At Hyderi Market, falling under North Nazimabad Town, challans of only five retailers would be handed over to the judicial magistrate on Saturday.
At Kamran Market and Gulistan-i-Jauhar, under Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town, only four retailers were identified. Nine shopkeepers and vendors of fruits and vegetables in Liaquatabad Town (Supermarket and Gole Market Nazimabad) would be prosecuted followed by three retailers at New Karachi (Sindhi Hotel Market) and four retailers at Water Pump under Gulberg Town.
The official said challans of these retailers would be presented to the judicial magistrate on Saturday so that summon could be issued either for heavy penalties or imprisonment.
The official said area Nazims had been requested to provide one or two workers of the areas in order to fulfil the obligation of witness before filing the case in court.
The BSP has selected 18 Towns to monitor 30 main city markets, but it has less than 40 officials deputed to check price and unlawful practice of vendors.
All officials have been directed to collect price lists on a daily basis from Sabzimandi Sub Office/BSP and submit daily progress report at the office.
Sources at the BSP said Bureau officials had been dilly-dallying in identifying profiteers which was evident from the fact that only 46 vendors and retailers from eight markets out of 30 markets had been spotted on the first day. The BSP official did not give details about other markets.
Consumers continued to pay high prices due to inefficiency on the part of the city government in curbing profiteering. Almost a week has passed, but the Town Nazims are still awaiting a notification of being entrusted with the powers to challan retailers for overcharging.
Town Nazims of various areas have been continuously paying surprise visits and conducting raids in their commercial areas, but they can only spot and warn the vendors not to overcharge consumers.
On Friday, the No 1 quality potato price rose to Rs15 a kg from Rs13.50 a kg on Thursday.
