PESHAWAR: Despite checking by the officials of various departments the prices of different food items particularly wheat flour, sugar, pulses and cooking oil are constantly soaring in the wholesale market of Peshawar on the pretext of lockdown.

The Nanbais Association, Peshawar, has also warned to increase the roti (bread) price in case the government did not control the flour prices within three days.

“We visited the offices of relevant officials time and again to present them our demands, but they are not available,” Khaisata Gul Mohmand, president of his own group of Nanbais Association, told this correspondent. He said that despite raise in flour price the Nanbais (bread makers) were still charging Rs10 for the 120 grams bread and Rs15 for that of 170 grams. He said that it was no longer affordable for them.

A 20kg bag of mixed flour, which was available for Rs830 two weeks ago, is now being sold at a price between Rs1,150 and Rs1,200 while the same quantity of fine flour was sold at Rs1,250. The price of 85kg flour bag rose from Rs4,300 to Rs4,700. The price of 50kg bag of sugar has been increased from Rs3,800 to Rs4,000.

During a visit to the market here on Friday it was learnt that the officials of different TMAs had started checking the flour price at retail shops, but they seemed least bothered to take action against the wholesale dealers.

Peshawar nanbais threaten to hike roti price

The wholesale dealers at Bara Road, Canal Road and Rampura markets are charging Rs1,150 for 20kg flour bag and Rs4,700 for 85kg, saying the prices rose due to the hurdles in supply of the commodity from Punjab soon after the lockdown was announced.

“The prices rose due to the lockdown as the supply of wheat was suspended from Sindh province,” Sadaqat Ullah, a spokesman for the FoodGrainDealers and Merchants Association, Peshawar, told Dawn. He hoped that if the goods transport was allowed to operate the rates would fall down.

Also, the prices of cooking oil and ghee have registered a notable increase. The dealers in Rampura market said that the prices of ghee had increased by Rs20 to Rs30 per kg.

Similarly, the prices of pulses rose in the wholesale market of Ashraf Road. Dealers said that up to Rs12 per kg hike had been noted in prices of different pulses. They said that bean’s price was increased from Rs208 to Rs220 in wholesale market.

Retailers in Bara Gate and Swati Phatak demanded of the government to take action against the wholesale dealers and millers to avoid overcharging.

The fruit and vegetable dealers have also started exploitation of customers and they are least bothered to follow the official price list.

The dealers have started charging Rs20 to Rs40 additional on per kg of different items.

Ihtesham Khan, an official of Town-3, told Dawn that the government had strictly ordered to control profiteering and hoarding of food items.

According to a statement issued by the deputy commissioner’s office, 28 people, including owners of general stores, nanbais, milk sellers and vegetable and fruit vendors, were arrested on Friday during raids in Peshtakhara, Yakatoot, Matani, Charsadda Road, Kohat Road and Ring Road localities.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2020