SIALKOT, Oct 9: The district administration has failed to check profiteering, blackmarketing and hoarding at all four sasta bazaars and Ramazan fair price shops set up in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils.

During a survey of these bazaars and fair price shops, consumers told newsmen that the local traders were paying no heed to the government’s announcement regarding a 10 per cent reduction in the prices of commodities under the Ramazan package. Instead the retailers had increased prices of vegetables and fruits from 30 to 100 per cent, they said.

They said shopkeepers and vendors were selling low quality fruits and vegetables at high rates.

Tomatoes which were available for Rs15 to Rs16 per kilo before Ramazan are now being sold for Rs30. Onion price has increased from Rs15 to Rs20 per kg, potatoes from Rs15 to Rs25, sugar from Rs27 to Rs30, red chilies from Rs85 to Rs100 and gram powder from Rs28 to Rs33. Similarly, green chilies, peas, garlic and lemon are being sold for Rs55, Rs60, Rs55 and Rs52 per kilo, respectively.

Similarly, beef is being sold for Rs100 to Rs120 per kilo instead of Rs80, mutton for Rs200 to Rs230 instead of Rs180 and milk for Rs24 per litre against its fixed price of Rs20.

Likewise, apples are being sold for Rs40 to Rs60 per kg, bananas for Rs25 to Rs30 per dozen, guava for Rs40 per kg and grapes for Rs70 per kg. The price of chicken has increased from Rs75 to Rs110 per kilo, while eggs are available for Rs38 to Rs40 per dozen.

The district government has established four sasta bazaars one each in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils, besides six fair price shops for providing a financial relief to the masses during Ramazan.

The consumers have urged the federal, provincial and district governments to take measures to bring down the rising prices of daily use commodities, besides ensuring the quality of these commodities.