KARACHI, Nov 1: Potato, chicken, egg, sugar and tomato have become costlier, while prices of pulses and some vegetables have declined in the last one month. A prominent increase was witnessed in prices of live poultry bird, which climbed to Rs76 from Rs70 per kg in the last one month. Its meat prices jumped to Rs130 from Rs120 per kg. Egg prices shot up to Rs48 from Rs40 a dozen.

The increase in chicken prices seemed unjustified as there was no problem of any shortage or mortality of birds at farms. So far no case of bird flu in poultry birds has been detected in the country.

The only reason behind the steep rise in chicken prices was a demand burst ahead of Eidul Fitr. Poultry farmers and wholesalers know that people would throng the markets to buy chicken at any cost for preparing various dishes on Eid days and it is the right time to raise prices artificially.

The Pakistan Poultry Association and the Karachi Wholesaler Poultry Association have been playing this trick with consumers for the last many years ahead of Eid. These market forces used to come out with lame excuses of slow production and increase in day-old chick prices. These two associations have also flatly refused before the city government in fixing chicken prices for Ramazan.

A random market survey from October 1 to November 1, 2005 reveals that sugar prices increased by Rs2 per kg to Rs28 from Rs26. However, the city government through a notification fixed the price at Rs25 per kg for the holy month, but this could not be implemented. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan has issued various tenders for the sale of sugar, but it has failed to make any difference as the corporation always seeks the highest bid to sale the commodity instead of adopting a method for selling sugar at Rs23 per kg without calling a tender. The TCP has provided sugar to utility stores at Rs23 per kg, but surprisingly it did not adopt the same tradition while selling the commodity to the entire city’s markets.

The city government in its drive to check prices could only grab a few sugar retailers but failed to take any action against those prominent political figures who are involved in this business.

Prices of potato surged by Re1 to Rs15 from Rs14 per kg, as the price regulators also could not hold a grip on retailers for charging higher prices. Tomato prices also increased to Rs20 from Rs12 per kg.

Prices of pulses had remained depressed. Retailers were bound to sell pulses at officially fixed prices.

However, wholesalers, retailers and importers now forecast a phenomenal rise in the prices of pulses after Eid following an increase in the international market. The wholesale price of masoor surged to Rs42, while the city government fixed the rate at Rs33. The wholesale prices of masoor and mash increased to Rs44 and Rs42, respectively, from Rs26 and Rs37 fixed for Ramazan. The wholesale prices of kabuli channa and kala channa rose to Rs54 and Rs26, respectively, from the fixed price of Rs48 and Rs22 per kg.

Retailers say the real impact of an increase in global pulses prices would be witnessed after Eid when market players lift the stock from the wholesale markets at higher rates. At present they are selling pulses at officially fixed prices.

The government had fixed the rate of loose milk at Rs25 per litre, but retailers are charging Rs28 per litre. City government officials are imposing fines on milk retailers for overcharging but failed to put a hand on wholesalers and dairy farmers.

Same is the case with mutton as it is being sold at Rs220-250 per kg as against the official price of Rs210 for Ramazan.

The performance of the city government in controlling profiteering could be gauged from the fact that less than 5,500 retailers and shopkeepers were fined from October 7 till November 1, and a sum of Rs2 million was recovered as fine from them.