VEHARI, Sept 8: With the advent of Ramazan, escalated prices of kitchen items have compounded the problems of people already under the burden of spiraling petroleum products and power tariffs.

The district administration has failed to provide any relief to people as stockest, wholesalers, dealers and retailers of consumer goods have increased the prices of vegetables, fruits, meat, chicken, pulses, flour, ghee, dates and sugar.

The Punjab Task Force team headed by Samiullah Chaudhry raided Ramazan and Sassta bazaars on Sept 6. During the presence of the team, shopkeepers and vendors sold their items at controlled rates.

They were back to their own rates when the team left the bazaars after a half an hour or so. Consumers demanded that a permanent check be arranged at these bazaars.

They alleged overpricing was being done with the connivance of Market Committee officials.

Even though the provincial government has delegated magisterial powers to deputy district officers (revenue) to control prices, but governmental writ has disappeared from the market. Before the advent of Ramazan, the Vehari district government fixed the prices of different commodities, but official prices were hardly followed by traders.

If Ramazan and Sassta bazaars are no help to consumers, so are state-run utility stores which are without essential kitchen items. People have to wait for hours for their turn to get whatsoever is available at these utility stores.

A consumer from Thingi said that he had visited the utility store in Vehari time and again but every time he had to leave the store without sugar and other required items. A utility store official said they were supplied with sugar from Multan twice a week preferably on Mondays or Thursdays but the schedule was not being strictly observed.

District Coordination Officer Khurram Agha said the district government was taking measures to provide kitchen items to people at fixed rates. He also said price control magistrates and price control committees would strictly monitor implementation of prices.