KARACHI, Nov 10: The Enterprise and Investment Promotion (EIP) Department of the city government, after having a series of meetings with different associations of wholesalers and retailers, has issued a final existing price list of eatable commodities for the month of Ramzan.

The department held a series of meetings with different associations of poultry traders, wholesalers and retailers and asked them to cooperate with the government to counter unnatural price hike and shortage of commodities.

However, it will have no control over supply and prices of vegetables and fruits during this Ramzan.

Prior to implementation of the devolution of power plan, this task was carried out by officials of the district administration and the Bureau of Supply and Prices.

However, during the first week of October, the provincial cabinet had decided to disband the Bureau of Supply and Prices and declared its employees surplus.

The cabinet had also decided to transfer the authority to hold weekly bazaars to the district governments.

Though this decision has not been implemented yet, the EIP department has by itself held several meetings with dealers and associations of essential daily commodities.

Other measures include organizing of more weekly bazaars to create a conducive and competitive environment.

There are more than a hundred weekly bazaars in the city out of which only about thirty-five have been granted permission by Bureau of Supply and Prices, some by concerned (now defunct) deputy commissioners and others by civic agencies including the defunct KMC and the KDA.

Under regulations as described in the Sindh Local Bodies Ordinance 2001, the EIP department is authorized to organize weekly bazaars.

The department, which is holding approximately 70 weekly bazaars in Karachi, plans to establish at least one such bazaar in each union council.

Apart from these measure the department, in coordination with Bureau of Supply and Prices, will establish complaint centres at various places, including all the UCs and town offices, where Nazims will be attending complaints and conducting counter checks to ensure that there is no misdoings on part of the shopkeepers during Ramzan.

According to an official of the EIP, the government should authorize the DDOs of Revenue and EIP departments to conduct these checks and to ensure proper implementation of relevant laws regarding the issue.

Nevertheless, neither the EIP nor the Bureau of Supply and prices can ensure control over prices and smooth supply of fruits and vegetables.

With a limited supply and many folds increase in demands it is unlikely that the departments could keep prices and supply of fruits and vegetables under control.—PPI