RAWALPINDI: Traders and shopkeepers have continued to charge high prices for edible goods in the city and cantonment areas, despite government claims about efforts to control the price hike.

The district administration recently launched a facility through which people in two areas in the city could buy fruits and vegetables online, but the rest of the population continues to buy goods from the open market.

Residents have criticised the provincial government for failing to bring down the prices of daily goods, saying it was the government’s duty to control profiteering.

They said the government and price control committees were not paying attention to the issue, while people have continued to suffer.

Additional Deputy Commissioner General Zaheer Jappa told Dawn that the district administration has introduced an online shopping facility for fruits and vegetables.

He said the administration has selected vendors who buy products from the main dealers at rates determined by the deputy commissioner, add their profits and then supply the items to customers at their doors according to the official prices.

He said this system has been introduced in Satellite Town and Westridge, and will be expanded to Bahria Town and the Defence Housing Authority soon.

“At present, 40 to 45 orders are received through the online system on a daily basis while the district administration has sought more vendors so the system can be expanded,” he said.

He added that the district administration is ensuring that wheat flour and sugar are supplied in the market. He said 40 truck points have been established to provide wheat flour for Rs805 for a 20 kilogram bag and sugar for Rs70 per kg.

Action has also begun against profiteering, he said, with shopkeepers and vendors being fined every day for charging higher than the official rates for goods.

Mutton is being sold for Rs1,100 to Rs1,200 per kg, against an official price of Rs850 per kg. Beef is being sold for Rs550-650 per kg instead of the official price of Rs425-450, chicken is being sold for Rs190 per kg instead of the official rate of Rs180 per kg and eggs are being sold for Rs120 a dozen, against the official rate of Rs100 a dozen.

Potatoes are being sold at Rs50 per kg against the official price of Rs42 per kg, onions at Rs70 per kg against the official price of Rs58 per kg, garlic at Rs380 per kg against the official price of Rs320 per kg, ginger at Rs400 per kg against the official price of Rs370 per kg, tomatoes at Rs50-55 per kg against the official price of Rs40 per kg, carrots at Rs45 per kg against the official price of Rs34 per kg, peas at Rs80 per kg against the official price of Rs70 per kg, cabbage and cauliflower at Rs70 and Rs60 per kg respectively against the official price of Rs55-60 per kg and cucumber at Rs90 per kg against the official price of Rs70 per kg.

Apples are being sold at Rs90 per kg, oranges for Rs180 per dozen, bananas for Rs90 a dozen, pomegranates for Rs250 per kg, dates for Rs230 per kg, grapes for Rs150 per kg and guava for Rs60 per kg.

“Sugar is available for Rs90 per kilogram and wheat flour for Rs78 per kilogram,” said Shahzad Akram, who was visiting Raja Bazaar. He said the average citizen was suffering because of the price hike.

Mohammad Suleman, a government employee, said salaries have remained the same while inflation was too high.

“It is difficult to pay utility bills, children’s fees and meet the kitchen budget with a lower salary,” he said, adding that governments should pay employees inflation allowance.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2020