LANDI KOTAL, July 22: Hardly a day after the political administration issued a price list of necessary daily use items for Ramazan, most shopkeepers defied the official orders and started fleecing customers with inflated prices of most items on Sunday.

The local administration in consultation with traders unions in Landi Kotal and Jamrud fixed the rate of a number of edibles.

According to the mutually agreed price list the price of one kilogram of beef was fixed at Rs300, mutton at Rs650 per kg, poultry Rs250 per kg, pakoras Rs180 per kg, ice Rs15 per kg and Rs15 for bread weighing 320 grams.

A separate price list was also prepared for various fruits and vegetables with the understanding that this list would be updated on daily basis.

But, consumers complained that most shopkeepers defied the official price list and overcharged them with prices of their own choice. Most of the fruit and vegetable sellers, they said refused to display the official price list.

Ice remained the most sought after commodity as demand for it has jumped in the fasting month thanks to excessive loadshedding, which has rendered most of the electric appliances, especially refrigerators, ineffective.

Taking advantage of the situation some ice dealers charged Rs50 for one kilogram of ice. Milk and yogurt were also short in supply and milk dealers fleeced the customers.

Authorities who had warned of a stern action against profiteers had been unable to take any action against them, despite rising criticism by the local residents.

KARAK: Traders of Karak city have shown utter disregard to the directives of district administration regarding observing official price list.

The district administration should implement the official pricelist by force as profiteering and hoarding has started with the advent of Ramazan, demanded social activists of Karak city, including Nisar Ahmad, Mohammad Faroque, Qaisar Khan and Gul Faraz Khan.

Talking to Dawn on Sunday they also complained that the tailors were charging Rs500 per suit and the butchers were selling meat on their own rates which was beyond the reach of poor people. The activists said the poor people would not be able to buy their children new clothes on Eidul Fitr.

They threatened if the district administration failed to provide any relief to the poor masses in the holy month then they would be left with no option but to protest against it.