KARACHI, Oct 27: The deadly earthquake of October 8 has shifted the city government’s focus from its price control checking campaign to fund and donation raising efforts, giving a free hand to shopkeepers and retailers to earn as much as they can.

A total of 4,859 persons were challaned from Oct 7 to 27 and Rs2,066,315 was recovered as fine from profiteers. As many as 20 persons were also sent to jail.

This figure looks quite impressive from the government’s point of view but in the real sense, consumers are now virtually suffering at the hands of fruit-, vegetable- and meat-sellers by paying double the price, particularly in the case of fruits.

This year, three teams comprising nine to 10 persons have been set up for each town, which have proved insufficient to handle the price control situation because there are 18 towns with a massive population and a number of markets.

The Executive District Officer, Karachi, Capt Hashim Zaidi, said the new city nazim had issued orders to officers to expedite their efforts in controlling prices.

“I am sure the situation will improve from Friday,” he said by reckoning that “once our team comprising 10 persons visits any market in the morning and afternoon, they do not come back the same day, as they have other work to do”.

Like other city government senior officials, Zaidi also claimed that the price checking campaign was much effective from last year’s, but there may be a few areas where prices were flying high. He said the situation was expected to improve from Friday.

Meanwhile, a senior city government official said the price control campaign had definitely suffered as many officials were working simultaneously on price-checking and quake relief fund campaigns.

When his attention was drawn that guava was openly being sold at Rs60 per kg in various markets, double the official price, he claimed that it was available at Rs30 in the wholesale market. But, retailers were actually playing havoc with the prices, he added.

Almost all fruit varieties are being sold at double the actual price or exorbitant rates. In vegetables, dealers are charging Rs1 to Rs2 per kg more than the official rate. Sugar is being sold at Rs26-28 per kg against the fixed rate of Rs25 per kg.

Retailers of fruits feel no humiliation of being caught red handed in the public on the charge of profiteering. They know that they would have to pay a little fine on the spot but would recover by making good money throughout the day, as officials often visit the market just once in a day.

Under the same feeling – vegetable dealers too are fleecing consumers without fear.

Besides, complaint centres in every town have almost become invisible in the city. A majority of them have either disappeared from the market surroundings or are lying vacant even if they exist.

Market observers say the earthquake has virtually changed the market scenario.

The price checking campaign would have yielded positive results because a higher number of officials had been conferred magisterial powers this year.

It has also been observed in the market that a majority of consumers do not even bother about the price hike issue, as they are more concerned about the quake victims rather than the price issue.

They know that it is a time-consuming exercise to indulge in lodging complaints on phones and waiting for the results. They rather buy the item irrespective of its prices.

As Eid draws near, city government officials will have to keep strict vigil on meat merchants who, like in the yesteryears, have demanded phenomenal prices thus putting the official rate on the sidelines.