SWABI: The Rs2 and Re1 coins have suddenly disappeared from the local market, troubling the people as they are to pay more on purchase of items.

People belonging to different walks of life told Dawn that traders exploited them in the absence of Rs2 and Re1 coins. The Rs5 coin, which the government introduced replacing with the Rs5 note, had also proved costly for the consumers, they recalled.

Mohammad Irfan, a local resident, said that rickshaw drivers charged extra from commuters in the absence of the coins of small denominations. But, the drivers said that they were given the same treatment at the filling stations after the Rs2 and Rs1 coins disappeared from the market.

“The disappearance of the coins has benefited the traders, proving heavy on pockets of consumers,” said Qaisar Khan, a teacher of Maneri Bala. Commenting on the matter, the traders said that disappearance of coins was caused by ‘devaluation’ of the Pakistani currency.

The small value coins were very useful for us especially while purchasing small items, said 80-year-old Rahim Dad Khan.

The consumers demanded of the concerned quarters to take notice of the matter and ensure availability of the coins in the market.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2015

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