TAXILA, July 17: As the holy month of Ramazan approaches, the prices of daily-use items started rising in Taxila and its adjoining areas.

It has become a routine that every year before and during the holy month hoarders and profiteers create artificial price hike to get illegal profit, creating immense problems for the already inflation-hit citizens. Besides the soaring prices of vegetables and fruits, the basic commodities have also witnessed an increase in their prices. During a visit to the markets by this scribe on Tuesday, it was observed that prices of onions, potatoes, tomatoes, chillies and other vegetables had increased phenomenally while wholesalers and retailers were not following the government-approved rates and were overcharging the consumers. It was found that onion was selling at Rs40 per kilogramme with a sudden increase of Rs20, garlic at Rs120 with an increase of Rs20, potatoes at Rs40-60 with a difference of Rs10, tomatoes at Rs50-60 with an increase of Rs20, beans at Rs120 with an increase of Rs30 and green chilli at Rs240-280 with an increase of Rs80-100.

The prices of fruits have also increased across the city. Peaches were available for Rs80 per kg with an increase of Rs20, mangoes for Rs100-120 with an increase of Rs30, apricots for Rs120 with an increase Rs40, white pomegranate for Rs150 and lychee for Rs200-220 with an increase of Rs40.  The price of chicken also increased and was selling at Rs300-350 per kg, mutton at Rs600 per kg and beef at Rs275-300 per kg. Besan is being sold at Rs120 to Rs130 a kilogramme, yogurt at Rs75 to Rs90 while milk at Rs65 to Rs75 per litre.

Like in the past, this year too, the price control system of the city district government seems to have failed in controlling the prices even before Ramazan. Moreover, it was also observed that most retailers did not bother to display the price lists while those who did refused to follow them.

ATTOCK:  The district administration of Attock claimed to have finalised all necessary arrangements to facilitate the people before and during the holy month. In this connection, a meeting was held on Tuesday with District Coordination Officer Shakeel Ahmed in the chair.

The meeting decided that the administrations of all the six tehsils would be responsible for the cleanliness of Ramazan bazaars and other public places in coordination with the social welfare department and price control committees of their respective tehsils. Moreover, special price and quality checking teams are also being formed to check profiteering, hoarding and sale of substandard food items.

The officials of the labour department will check the weights and scales of shopkeepers and vendors to ensure sale of items in proper quantity.

Complaints cells are also being setup at the district and tehsil headquarters to monitor/redress any public complaint or problem.