RAWALPINDI: The district administration issued a new price list of edibles for the open market on Saturday, which was being implemented by traders only for low quality food items.

A meeting of the PriceControl Committee was held under the chairmanshipofDeputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema, which was also attended by Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha and others.

The district administration fixed thepriceofRoti at Rs20 and Naan at Rs25, whereas the Naanbais (bakers) were already charging this price for the last two years. Under the old price list, which was valid till July 21, the price of Roti was Rs10 and that of Naan, Rs15.

Similarly, as per theofficial list, the price of mutton had been fixed at Rs1,600 per kg whereas it was already available for Rs2,000 per kg in the market.

Same of the case of beef whose price had been fixed at Rs800 per kg whereas it was being sold for Rs900-Rs1,000 per kg.

Price of milk had been fixed at Rs180 per litre while it was available for Rs210 in the open market.

The price of yogurt had been set at Rs190 in the official list, but traders were already selling it for Rs220 in the market.

As per the official list, the price of rice was Rs160 per kg but in the market, it was being sold for Rs400 per kg.

According to an official of the district administration, the price list had been prepared after consultation with local traders and stakeholders.

He said the price committee obtained the market rates before fixing the prices.

When contacted, Rawalpindi Merchant Association President Saleem Pervaiz said the price committee was informed that the rice price in the wholesale market was more than the rated fixed by the district administration but the committee did not listen to them.

He said rates of pulses had increased in the wholesale market and it was not possible to sell them at low rates, therefore the shopkeepers were implementing the price list only for low quality food items while high quality items were being sold as per the wholesale market rate.

He said all grocery stores had set up special counters for low quality food items which were being sold as per rates fixed in the official price list, adding that better quality items were being sold at company rates.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2023