ISLAMABAD, Feb 5: The Consumer Watch Pakistan has criticised the rise in prices of essential commodities and the apathy of the government to control the trend.

It said the latest inclusion in the list of items whose prices have skyrocketed was milk which has become dearer in a number of cities and government authorities seem to be unaware of the methods and mechanism to control the situation. As if the current crisis of flour and sugar was not enough to break the back of consumers, the price of milk has been raised by milkmen and the government looks like a silent spectator.

The preliminary surveys conducted in selected markets of Islamabad showed that prices of milk had been increased by Rs4 per kg. Milk previously available for Rs27 to Rs32 per kg is now selling at Rs34 to Rs36 per kg. Similarly, yogurt is being sold for Rs38 per kg. In some markets of Islamabad, its price has touched as high as Rs42 per kg.

This situation depicts the absence of the writ of the government to control the prices of articles of daily use. —Online