January 07, 2008	Monday	Zilhaj 27, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: Taking the lead in the prevailing crises, shortage of candles has struck the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad that are also in the grip of load management policies of energy suppliers.

A market survey conducted by Dawn on Sunday revealed that there was a shortage of candles both at retail and wholesale levels because of the increase in their demand during long power outages.

It was observed that candles were not available at most of the shops, and where available, they were being sold at exorbitant rates.

The cost of candles has almost doubled at retail level, as a small candle is selling at Rs10 against its previous price of Rs5. Similarly, a candle of Rs10 is now available at Rs20.

“We are already suffering from electricity and gas loadshedding, and the situation has become worse due to unavailability of candles,” a woman in search of candles in G-10 Markaz said.

She said it had become difficult to stay at home during suspension of gas and power supply in severe cold and darkness.

Some senior citizens said they had not witnessed such a situation in the county earlier, as people were now facing several crises like political, power, gas and flour, simultaneously.

They accused the former government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid of putting the country in different sorts of crises at the end of its tenure.

Meanwhile, candles are also not available in Rawalpindi and their rates are also stated to be quite high these days.

Due to sharp increase in demand of this product, the rate of a carton of candles at wholesale level is Rs1,300 against its previous rate of Rs500.

The effects of power crisis can also be seen in the prices of lanterns in the twin cities. Visits to different commercial centres showed that lanterns had also vanished from the shops and due to limited availability they were selling at inflated rates.

Similarly, the cost of power generators has gone up because people are facing three to four hour power outages these days, and those who can afford are purchasing power generators both for commercial and residential use.