September 14, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 13, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Sept 13: The City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) has formed a committee to monitor the retail prices of fruits and vegetables fixed by the market committee daily during the month of Ramazan.

District Coordination Officer Imdadullah Bosal said the CDGR took the step after noticing that the prices had increased since the formation of the market committee.

Consumers in some parts of the city on the other hand found it confounding that some retailers were able to sell things at rates lower than those fixed by the market committee.

Now a committee has been formed under the Deputy District Officer (Revenue) which will obtain rates of vegetables and fruits from the Sabzi Mandi Islamabad in close cooperation with the Islamabad administration so that consumers get these items at affordable rates.

Citizens blame the district government for the inefficiency of the market committee. They say the committee should have been formed before the start of Ramazan.

Prices of vegetables and fruits have shown a nominal decline after 10 days of the holy month have passed. However, the quality of fruits and vegetables do not correspond to their prices.

Complaints against the market committee’s rate list had been growing on this count as well as the quality. The perception is that the market committee is influenced in fixing the prices by the vested interests that control the wholesale market of fruits and vegetables.

It is alleged the market committee had been serving the interests of the hoarders and profiteers and not those of the consumers. Many feel the market committee has failed to serve its purpose.

The daily price list prepared by the committee reaches the retailers after mid-day - a time when consumers have already finished their daily grocery shopping.

Prices that prevailed on the first of Ramazan spoke volumes about the performance of market committee. Price of grapes jumped to Rs200 per kilogramme from Rs80 of the previous day. Bananas sold for Rs80 per dozen, twice the price the previous day.

Likewise, prices of watermelon, peaches, apples, guava and other fruits also increased sharply.

DCO Bosal also announced that the district government has decided to check 400 slaughter houses believed to be involved in selling sub-standard beef and mutton at inflated prices.

Animals are being slaughtered there with no concern for their health. While prices of meet and beef have sharply increased, the stuff is sub-standard in quality.