KARACHI: Magisterial powers sought for DDOs to control prices
By Aamir Shafaat Khan
KARACHI, Dec 3: At a time when prices of wheat flour varieties and mutton and other items, are getting out of the reach of the common people, the Enterprise and Investment Promotion Group of Offices of the city government has asked city Nazim Naimatullah Khan to seek magisterial powers for deputy district officers (DDOs revenue) to maintain and continue the effect of price check after Ramazan.
“The public is afraid and critical of the rising trend of prices by the shopkeepers of mutton, milk, wheat flour and other items in the post-Ramazan period,” says a note sent by EDO Investment and Promotion M. Raeesuddin Paracha to the city Nazim.
Consumers are now in a quandary as they are paying Rs15 per kg for the fine atta as compared to Rs14 per kg on December 1. It was selling at Rs11-12 per kg a month back. The rate of atta No.2.5, which was fixed at Rs10.50 per kg by the Sindh government for Ramazan, has touched Rs14 per kg. The pure chakki atta is now selling at Rs16-17 per kg.
The Sindh government had skipped the fixing of fine atta prices in the price list issued in Ramazan, since it had been decided that only one brand would be available.
The 10-kg Ashrafi fine atta bag, which was selling at Rs145 on December 1, is now selling at Rs150. A month back it was available at Rs130.
The impact of the rising price of wheat and flour has ultimately filtered down on to other items. As all the bread varieties have already become costlier by one rupee, nan (roti) makers have also flared up prices by 50 paisa per roti in various areas to Rs3 from Rs2.50 and to Rs2.50 from Rs2.00.
Both the federal and the provincial governments are watching the situation, specially in the case of wheat and flour prices, as silent spectators.
Meanwhile, according to the findings of EDO Raeesuddin Paracha, prices of wheat flour and sugar have registered an increase in retail markets. Wheat flour, which was sold at Rs10.30-11 per kg during Ramazan, is now being sold at Rs13-15 per kg. Similarly the price of sugar, which was available at Rs19-20 per kg, is now being retailed at Rs20-21 per kg.
He said the provincial governments controlled the prices of these two main commodities. The city government, he said, had approached the secretary food department, government of Sindh, on Wednesday to regulate the prices of the above items and fix the wholesale and retail prices.
He added that the city Nazim had also taken up the matter of magisterial powers to the DDOs with the Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad in order to combat the practice of overcharging by the retailers and shopkeepers after Ramazan
Besides, the egg price has touched Rs41 per dozen from Rs38 per dozen on December 1. On November 1, it was selling at Rs31 per dozen.
Tomato prices had already hit the headlines ahead of Eid, touching new peaks of Rs80-100 per kg. Its prices are now ranging between Rs 45-50 per kg with the start of new Sindh crop. The commodity is selling at Rs30-35 per kg at wholesale rates.
A wholesaler in Subzimandi said that prices were expected to stabilize after December 15, when the new crop would arrive with full pace.
The city government’s effort to control the price of mutton has ended in a failure as meat merchants are still charging the pre-Ramazan rates. Consumers are still paying Rs170-200 for mutton as against the fixed rate of Rs 150 per kg for Ramazan. The rate of beef (bachia) with bones is still tagged at Rs90, while the price of boneless meat is hovering between Rs120-130 per kg.
EDO Raeesuddin Paracha said he had asked the city Nazim to take measures in eradicating the system of Aarthis (middlemen), especially in the case of mutton and beef as “Aarthis purchase a large number of live animals from traders, arriving from interior Sindh and Punjab, and thereafter sell it to butchers on credit at increased prices.
It is estimated that this process causes an increase of Rs200 to Rs300 in the price of an average goat, which results in price of mutton. The places occupied by Aarthis in the Cattle Piri, Landhi, may be got vacated by the EDO Revenue and the EDO Agriculture.
