MINGORA, Oct 19: Prices of items of daily use have gone up with the advent of Ramazan and people belonging to low-income groups are finding it difficult even to buy basic food items.

The authorities have failed to take action against shopkeepers who are fleecing consumers.

Liquefied gas is sold at Rs50 to Rs55 per kg against the official rate of Rs42.

Butchers are selling beef at Rs80 per kg with bone and Rs100 per kg for boneless instead of the displayed prices of Rs70 and Rs80. The quality of the meat also is below standard.

The price of peas has increased from Rs40 to Rs60 per kg; lady finger, from Rs20 to Rs30; and cucumber from Rs15 to Rs30.

The price of apple has increased from Rs20 per kg to Rs40; Chinese grapes from Rs40 to Rs80, Afghan grapes from Rs40 to Rs60 and banana from Rs20 per dozen to Rs30. The prices of pakora and samosa have also risen sharply.

Many people sell eatables on handcarts parked on the roads but the administration and the local government have failed to0 take action against them.

Our Swabi Correspondent adds: Despite warning by the administration, butchers in Swabi and other cities have resorted to overcharging.

A market survey showed that there was a considerable difference between the prices fixed by the administration and those charged by the butchers.

The government has fixed the prices of beef and mutton at Rs70 and Rs140 per kilogramme, respectively. The butchers charge Rs80 per kilogramme for beef and Rs150 for mutton. No official has visited the markets to check the prices.

People in Topi, Shewa Adda, Anbar, Chota Lahor Teshil, Yar Hussain, Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate and Gadoon belt have also complained of overcharging by butchers. The price of gur was increased from Rs100 to Rs120 per five kg.