DADU: Profiteers appear to have a free reign during lockdown as prices of most of the essential commodities, especially vegetables and fruits, continue to rise in the absence of an efficient and effective price control mechanism.

Several vendors, shoppers and officials Dawn interviewed on Wednesday disclosed that vendors had, in collusion with market committee officials, raised the prices of almost all vegetables and fruits to take advantage of the situation emerging out of the lockdown.

Citizens complained that onion, a common ingredient for all dishes, was being sold for Rs40 kilo while its price had been fixed at Rs25 and Rs30 per kg. In addition, ladyfinger was being sold at Rs100 to 120 a kilo, ridge gourd at Rs160-170 a kg which had been Rs40-45 a kilo before lockdown and green capsicum was available at Rs80-90 a kilo, which was being offered at merely Rs40-45 a kilo, they said.

Price of papaya, a seasonal fruit, had risen to Rs120 to 150 a kilo from Rs60-80 a kilo, watermelon’s price had soared to Rs50-60 a kg from Rs25 and 40 a kilo, melon’s price had risen to Rs60-70 a kg from Rs40 and 50 a kg and the price of sweet lime had jumped to Rs120 and 150 a kg from Rs70 and 80, they said.

They said that vendors were selling mixed variety of onion, peas, green capsicum, ladyfinger, cucumber, ridge gourd, cauliflower and other vegetables as well as fruits and charging people the price for the sorted variety.

Shahzad Soomro, a citizen, said that since the residents were not able to go to Sabzi Mandi to buy vegetables and fruits of their choice at affordable rates because of lockdown and fears over coronavirus spread, vendors were fleecing them mercilessly.

“Instead of controlling inflation and artificial hike in prices, the district administration and food department officials have given traders and greengrocers a free hand to fleece citizens,” he said.

Another citizen Advocate Mohammad Ali said that lockdown-hit people were leading a miserable life after losing their jobs, businesses and small enterprises but the officials of food department and district government appeared to be in deep slumber and lethargy.

“The prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing but no action is being taken by district or local government to deal with the situation,” he said.

Saleem Raza Panhwar said that the prices of seasonal vegetables and fruits had risen so much that people had to think twice before buying. “The district government’s price control system has proven useless. The officials of price control committees just make a show of checking prices of commodities to demonstrate that they are performing their duties,” he said.

Israr Shaikh, a government employee, said that officials had no control over vendors, retailers, merchants, traders and shopkeepers who had unilaterally raised prices, throwing official rate lists into garbage pail.

In order to control the prices of seasonal fruits and vegetables, Dadu deputy commissioner directed all major stores to enforce the prices notified by the government.

The district administration issues rate lists for stores, fruit and vegetable retail bazaars after public outcry over exorbitant increase in the price of seasonal fruits and vegetables but no one seems to implement it and the retailers are free to loot the masses who are already reeling from the fallout of lockdown.

The district government appears reluctant to enforce the notified rates across the board.

DC Raja Shahzaman Khuhro said that the price control officials should perform their duties proactively and the rate lists should be displayed at all shops where they could be seen easily.

“In order to curb profiteering, I have decided to pay surprise visits myself to check whether the price lists were being implemented,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Ali Baloch said that Rs25,000 fine was imposed on hoarders, grocers, shopkeepers, fruit sellers and vegetable vendors in the city. The exercise of checking price lists continued in Dadu and its surrounding areas, he added.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2020