November 8, 2002	Friday	Ramazan 2,1423

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FAISALABAD, Nov 7: The month of Ramazan has always been a boon to profiteers, hoarders and blackmarketeers.

This year also the district government has so far failed in controlling the escalating trend of overcharging and black-marketing of consumer goods with the start of Ramazan.

The multi-national food manufacturing companies have also refused to slash the prices of their products during Ramazan.

Shopkeepers in residential and commercial areas were seen selling pulses, rice, spices, ghee, sugar, gram-powder, red chilli and other kitchen items at exorbitant rates.

The prices of apples, dates, bananas, guavas and other fruits were also being sold at higher rates as compared with market prices.

Shopkeepers have abandoned displaying price lists of fruits and kitchen items after the abolition of magistracy system because the government has so far failed to delegate these powers either to elected representatives or officials concerned.

However, Nazimeen of union councils have been asked to check adulteration and overcharging in their respective areas, but they are also playing the role of silent spectators.

Not a single complaint centre has been set up by the district government in any part of the city and its rural areas for entertaining the complaints of people about overcharging and hoarding.

The shopkeepers were seen selling loose ghee at Rs57 to Rs58 per kg against previous week’s prices of Rs55 per kg. Similarly, the national and multi-national ghee and cooking manufacturing companies have also enhanced the prices of their products without any cogent reason. The 5kg pack of Dalda is being marked at Rs395 as against Rs385 of previous week prices. The same size pack of Habib vanaspati and Tullo light cooking oil is being sold at Rs385 and Rs365, respectively, which is Rs10 higher as compared with previous rates.

Bakers have also increased the prices of biscuits, rusks, phenis, burgers, breads, cakes and other varieties prepared with ghee and fine atta.

Citizens have asked the Punjab governor to direct DCOs and district Nazimeen for taking legal action against profiteers and hoarders.

Special committees comprising elected representatives, government officials and area notables should be constituted to check the prices so that people could get consumer goods at reasonable rates in Ramazan.

GUJRANWALA: Stockists, hoarders and shopkeepers are selling commodities and vegetables at double rates while flour mills have also declined to provide wheat bags on subsidized prices in Ramazan.

Prices of almost all items have been enhanced from 50 per cent to 100 per cent by shopkeepers and grocers. The wheat bag of 20 kg is being sold from Rs185 to Rs187, sugar at Rs1,050 per bag of 50 kg, ghee tin of 16 kg from Rs820 to Rs850, meat at Rs120 per kg and beef at Rs60 per kg.

Similarly, the potato and onion which were being sold from Rs45 to Rs50 per five kg in vegetable market have reached from Rs85 to Rs95 per five kg while grocers and retailers are charging double prices from customers.

Shimla chilli is being sold from Rs100 to Rs200, carrot from Rs35 per five kg to Rs60 per five kg and muter from Rs110 to Rs150 per five kg.

Citizens have strongly protested against the government and district administration for not keeping a check on hike in prices, hoarding and black-marketing.