KARACHI, Dec 12: Government functionaries seem oblivious to the miseries caused to the general public by an exorbitant and uncontrolled rise in the prices of essential goods.

Sellers of different commodities are fleecing people at will, without any fear of an action as the department responsible for controlling prices has been stripped of its powers to impose fine or take on the spot action.

The Sindh High Court’s ruling, on a petition filed by meat sellers against the CDGK, that meat merchants were charging exorbitantly, has little effect on the situation, to the sheer disappointment of consumers. Mutton and beef is selling at prices not affordable to lower and middle class.

Mutton of ‘A’ quality is selling at Rs200 and of ‘B’ quality at Rs180 per kg whereas beef prices range between Rs110 and 120 per kg.

Atta price has also shot up to Rs15 per kg in most areas as against Rs12 per kg prevailing a couple of weeks back. Similarly, there are many other commodities, like green vegetables, tomatoes, onion, fruits, medicines, etc, have also become dearer owing to no obvious reasons.

When the concerned official, EDO Enterprise and Investment Promotion Raeesuddin Paracha, was approached and asked about the city government’s action against the profiteers, he said that the CDGK was helpless in the matter.

“Without having magisterial powers, our officials could not take action as verbal warnings to the profiteers would not work,” he said.

“The Sindh government is yet to respond to a summary, forwarded by the city government, seeking magisterial powers to the concerned CDGK officials,” he added.

He maintained that the powers were being sought for a period of six months only during which the CDGK would hopefully succeed in stabilizing prices of the items of daily use. However, he regretted, the provincial government was reluctant to oblige the CDGK in this regard. —PPI