HYDERABAD: This year again like all previous years, fast observing faithfuls are being fleeced by fruit vendors and wholesalers who have no fear of being caught or penalised by the toothless price regulation mechanism of district administration.

The administration’s promises that prices would be kept in check during Ramazan proved to be just tall claims as it absolved itself of all responsibility by just issuing price lists which remain largely unenforced.

“I swear I’ve bought this box of 7kg of apricot at Rs800 from wholesale market which makes its per kg cost Rs114 excluding my profit and overhead expense,” says a vendor selling apricot in Tower Market area.

He said that the box was available at less than Rs800 before Ramazan. “We can’t do anything when prices are increased by wholesalers while the administration expects us to sell fruits according to official price list,” he said.

The watermelon (garma/sarda) was being sold for Rs100 kg and plum at Rs200 while Chinese apple for Rs250. Sindhri mango was being sold for Rs70 against price of Rs58 per kg. Banana was sold for Rs100 a dozen.

Market forces offer different arguments in support of high prices.

A fruit commission agent Ziauddin who is also member of district administration’s price committee said that vendors were overcharging consumers only to increase their margin of profit because they know that consumers would throng markets during initial days of Ramazan.

“Vendors are buying a box of plum of Peshawar at Rs600 to Rs700 kg which means Rs110 per kg on an average. But it is being sold for Rs200 to earn Rs90 on a kilogram from consumer,” he said.

Ziauddin argued that he had told district administration that instead of holding bachat bazaars they should focus on strict implementation of price lists as it was the only tool they could use to benefit consumers and buyers otherwise there was no use of issuing price lists.

In the absence of a mechanism for enforcing the price list regulation becomes a tough job regardless of the fact which officer heads the district. The auction of fruits in wholesale fruit and vegetable market is not properly supervised. As a result, commodities are being sold at exorbitant prices.

The buyers who make deals in bulk also converge in Hyderabad’s market from nearby districts that also lead to shortage of commodities.

“The vendors are always ready to buy as much as possible fearing that if they didn’t increase auction rate their rival will grab it so they keep increasing rate that leads to price distortion,” said Ziauddin.

He added that fruits’ prices would be stabilised in a few days when supplies of fruit like apricot started from Balochistan. According to him, buyers usually purchase fruits in bulks during initial days of Ramazan and vendors take undue advantage of it.

DC Hyderabad couldn’t be contacted over phone.

The process of auction in markets is not being properly supervised. There is no independent verification system for the rates offered by vendors/bidders.

Ziauddin pointed out that if auction was properly supervised by the district administration the prices would automatically be controlled and remain in check.

The district administration officials usually visit bazaars during Iftar time and then impose fine for violation of official price list.

There is dearth of revenue officials as well therefore complaints centres set up by the administration usually remain empty throughout the day and vendors have a field day.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2014