January 9, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 8, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 8: People visiting the “bachat” bazaars in Gulshan and Gulistan-i-Jauhar, were left at the mercy of stall owners by the officials deputed to monitor prices. Due to the situation people had to buy substandard goods at higher prices. Being the last Sunday before Eidul Azha, people thronged to these bazaars established in Gulshan and Gulistan-i-Jauhar areas by the local government but the officials deputed at these temporary markets to monitor the prices were either absent or took no action against the stall owners fleecing the customers in the absence of official price lists.

These officials are supposed to ensure that the stall owners display prices of each commodity fixed by the price committee at prominent place besides putting price tags on each of the commodity.

Usually the organizers provide price lists of the greens and fruits besides displaying the same in the bazaars and at bamboos used to erect the tents but on Jan 8 in the Gulshan and Gulistan-i-Jauhar bazaars, the price lists were torn out by the stall owners and the organizers were refused to provide any list to the buyers on the pretext of shortage of copies.

The prices of the vegetables and fruits were higher than the market price and ironically the quality was poor.

Upon inquiring, people said that they came to these temporary markets as a matter of habit and as there was no one to hear their grievances or watch their interests, they were left with no choice but to complete shopping and rush back homes.

A vendor in the bazaar said they could sell at lower prices if the price controlling officials were removed from the scene as then, what he alleged, they would not be required to grease the palms of these officials.

—APP