ISLAMABAD: The capital administration on Wednesday made it obligatory for shopkeepers to display price lists for essential commodities to control the sharp rise in the prices over the last few days.

Administration officials said that displaying price lists has been made mandatory under section 144 of the CrPC. Violators could face action under section 188 of the PPC, they said.

They said there have been a number of complaints that essential commodities are being sold at prices higher than those specified by the administration.

The prices of green groceries, especially tomatoes, onions, potatoes, chillies and peas have increased sharply in the capital. Scores of complaints have been lodged with the capital administration in this regard over the last week, and the matter has been highlighted on social media and in the press.

Officials said this rise in prices has been seen all over the country.

This will prevent shopkeepers from charging more than the administration’s rate for essential commodities, officials say

The capital administration issues price lists for essential commodities including green groceries in light of auctions at the capital’s fruit and vegetable market, where middlemen buy produce from sellers who bring it to the city.

The auctions take place in the presence of administration officials, they said, and there has not been as much of an increase in prices as shopkeepers and middlemen have claimed.

It has been observed that these price lists are not being followed by shopkeepers selling essentials in the capital, which is why the administration has made it obligatory for them to display the lists, they said.

This way, people will be informed of the actual prices of essential commodities and can inform the capital administration if they find any violations.

A notification issued from the office of the district magistrate stated that it has been brought to the administration’s notice that essential commodities are being sold at higher prices than those specified by the administration. Moreover, sellers and shopkeepers are not displaying price lists at their establishments, it said.

The notification said there are sufficient grounds for proceedings under section 144 and ordered the display of price lists of essential commodities as specified in the Prevention of Hoarding and Profiteering (Price Control Act) by all sellers and shopkeepers within Islamabad.

The order will come into force immediately and will stay in place for two months. Gazetted officers from the food and agriculture departments, the market committee, police and all area magistrates are authorised to inspect shops and forward violations to the concerned assistant commissioner for action, the notification said.

According to a press release, the government is set to take action against middlemen or commission agents in the market to control inflation, Aviation Minister Chaudhry Ghulam Sarwar said on Tuesday.

He said the government has made plans to control rising prices of household items in the market, including devising practical policies to control market prices and curtail the involvement of commission agents responsible for increasing the prices of goods in the market.

Some government bodies have advised the concerned departments to either eliminate or minimise the role of middlemen within the market pricing system, he said, adding that adulteration and temporary increases in prices will only be resolved if the middleman is set aside and profiteers and hoarders are checked regularly.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019