September 03, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 2, 1429

ATTOCK, Sept 2: The district administration’s Ramazan contingency plan aimed at providing relief to consumers and controlling price hike has turned out to be an exercise in futility.

People complained that government had failed to provide any relief from the increasing price hike even in holy month of Ramazan. They said that Sasta bazaars had been set up but they lack sufficient space and most of the commodities are of inferior quality.

The price control/fixing committees are allegedly being run by the influential traders and stockists, they maintained.

They said the price control magistrates could not prove effective as they had failed to tighten the noose around big hoarders and stockists.

Daily use items have registered 50 to 100 per cent increase in Ramazan. Potato is being sold at Rs20 to Rs30 per kg, onion Rs25 to Rs30 per kg, tomato Rs35 to Rs40 per kg, lemon Rs70 to 80 per kg, garlic Rs90 to 100 per kg and Brinjal was Rs30 per kg.

Apple (fine quality) was available at Rs70 to 80 per kg, apple low quality Rs40 to Rs50 per kg, banana (fine quality) Rs60 to Rs70 per dozen, banana low quality at Rs45 to Rs50 per dozen and guavas Rs60 per kg, peach at Rs60-70 per kg, grapes Rs90-120 per kg and dates at Rs80 to 120 per kg. Rate of live chicken is Rs110 per kg and eggs Rs58 per dozen. Milk and yogurt were available at Rs30 to 32 and Rs40 per litre respectively.

The prices of pulses, rice, ghee, gram powder and red chilies have also registered almost 75-100 per cent increase. However, this time government has provided relief of Rs75 on 20kg flour bag as it is being sold at Sasta Bazaars on subsidised rate of Rs300 per bag.

But people are facing great hardship in getting a 20-kg bag. They stand in long queues under scorching heat to purchase it. The retail price of 20-kg flour bag in last Ramzan was Rs290, which has been increased to Rs375 per bag in these days.