November 20, 2002	Wednesday	Ramazan 14, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) has expressed its concern over increase in prices of essential items during Ramazan.

A survey conducted by the CRCP showed that despite the announcement of a relief package by the district administration for the holy month, prices of essential items continued to increase, reducing the purchasing power of the poor.

The CRCP termed the Ramazan relief packages announced by various district governments as “meaningless” in view of consistent increase in the price of different items. Commenting on the market trend, the CRCP secretary general, Mian Abrar Hafeez, said there was no check on unethical market practices such as price hikes, artificial shortage and sale of substandard food items.

Reviewing the overall situation in major cities during first ten days of Ramazan, he said that on the average, Karachi witnessed 20-30 per cent increase in prices of selected vegetables, 10-15 per cent in fruit, and about 14 per cent in meat.

In Attock district, the retailers have increased prices of some vegetables by 15-20 per cent, meat by 5-20 per cent, and eggs by 9-10 per cent, he added.

“In Peshawar, the ghee became dearer by about 15-20 percent.”

Mr Abrar said that prices of different items at utility stores in Islamabad had also increased.

A 20kg flour bag was being sold at Rs192, whereas its pre- Ramazan price was Rs189. Similarly, the price of 1kg average quality rice was up by Rs3, he added.

“In open market, the price of sugar had increased by about Rs1.50 per kg and in Faisalabad and Sialkot, an artificial shortage of wheat flour was witnessed,” the CRCP secretary general said.

Moreover, sale of substandard food items was also reported in Ramazan bazaars in major cities, he added. This trend proffers an indicative value to estimate the overall market situation all over the country, the CRCP secretary general said.

Mr Abrar, while deliberating on Ramazan relief package, said the government had not announced any relief package through cut in prices of essential items at utility stores.