WITH Ramazan round the corner, the mercenary and cynical characteristics that can often motivate traders’ dealings with their supply chain and their customers have not failed to rear their ugly head. As reported by this newspaper on Saturday, the prices of several essential food commodities have gone up, particularly sugar, the price of which in the country’s biggest wholesale commodities market located in Karachi has risen from Rs65 per kilo to a new retail peak of Rs70. The price of sugar stood at Rs55 per kilo at the beginning of the year, rose to Rs58-60 per kilo in February, while in March it was being sold at Rs63 in retail markets.

Of course, it is not only the price of sugar that is of concern. Vegetable, fruit, dairy products and pulses have also seen a rise in rates. In fact, in one week alone, staples such as onions and potatoes witnessed a rise of 8.35pc and 4.71pc respectively. If this is the situation before the advent of Ramazan one can only imagine the price pressure on poor families when the holy month gets under way and the demand for food and other items of daily use goes up even more. Given the economic straits that the country is in, the gloomy prognosis is that the people will have to tighten their belts further, as inflation spikes and families have to make hard choices between putting enough food on the table and giving their children a decent education. For those lower down the economic ladder the situation is even more dire. The state has put in place mechanisms such as consumer courts, price committees and special price magistrates. But notified rates have been openly flouted and even the relief offered by subsidised food items in utility stores during Ramazan has been limited in past years. The state has been unable to curb profiteering or take action against those who manipulate prices in this season. Can some more resolve be found to ease the travails of the citizens?

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2019