MANSEHRA: Fruit and vegetable vendors continue to charge prices of their own as the district administration has failed to get the official pricelist implemented in local markets.

Prices of fruit and vegetables registered an increase of 40 per cent with the start of Ramazan, and the profiteering continues unchecked.

Mazhar Shah, a local resident, told Dawn that the district administration had to yet to keep a check on the prices of fruit and vegetables. He said most vegetables were locally produced, but despite that their prices were beyond the common man’s reach, especially in the month of Ramazan. The district administration banned export of all kinds of vegetables out of the district under section 144 of CrPc, but the ban is openly violated by the fruit and vegetable wholesalers.

Potato, which was sold at Rs25 per kg before Ramazan, is being sold from Rs30 to Rs35 per kg. Onion’s pre-Ramazan price has been increased by Rs10 from Rs30 per kg, rate of garlic China has been increased from Rs100 per kg to Rs120 and that of local kind from Rs60 to Rs80 per kg.

Okra used to sell at Rs50 per kg before Ramazan, but now it is selling at Rs60 per kg, cauliflower sold at Rs40 per kg now sells at Rs50 per kg. French beans rate increased from Rs60 per kg to Rs90 per kg.

Similarly, red apple, which was sold at Rs250 per kg, is now selling at Rs280 to Rs300 per kg. Mango’s price was raised from Rs80-100 per kg to Rs120-140 per kg. Rate of plump hovered around Rs300 per kg.

Peach price jumped to Rs180 per kg from Rs100-120 per kg. Banana was sold at Rs80 per dozen before Ramazan, but is now selling at Rs120 per dozen.

SACKED EMPLOYEES: The local lawmakers have announced to raise the sacking of Hazara University employees on the provincial assembly floor. A delegation of 148 sacked contract employees of the varsity met local lawmakers Salah Mohammad Khan, Sardar Zahoor and Mian Ziaur Rehman and apprised them about their misery after sacking.

The lawmakers assured the employees, terminated under the new policy of the university, would take the issue to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly.

He said if the government couldn’t change the new policy, then it should extend the services of contract employees for at least one year.

Salah Mohammad said PTI-led government’s policies were causing unemployment in the province.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2015

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