Unholy price-hikes before holy month bites consumers

KARACHI: The holy month of Ramazan -- the most important month in the Islamic calendar - is around the corner. The Islamic religious literature speaks volumes about the significance of this month. Each year in this month, Muslims commit themselves to the best practices in Islam, share with one another and endeavour to be closer to God the Almighty.

However, it has become a tradition among our traders and the business community to skyrocket the prices of basic commodities when the month of Ramazan approaches and these unholy price-hikes before the holy month are not only lamentable as it negates to our commitments to best religious practices during the month, but it also come very hard on the hapless consumers---the humankind His greatest creation.

The price-hikes are witnessed all across the country. According to reports, lentils, spices, dates, and other food items are sold at high prices. The shop owners blame wholesalers for the increase in prices while the public blames price control authorities for not performing their duties properly.

In Lahore, sugar price was seen surged by Rs5 per kilo, while the ghee and edible oil prices also hiked by Rs10/15 per litre selling at Rs160/165 per litre. Besides, red chilli price soared by Rs40 peaked at Rs240 per kilo.

The mega metropolis Karachi seems worst affected, as the trend of increasing prices of daily-use necessities remains unchecked in absence of any governance or authority putting any break to this free for all laissez faire all the time squeezing the consumers’ purchasing power. Market sources told that Kabli gram wholesale price during one month rocketed from Rs126 to Rs162, Moong from Rs112 to Rs130 and gram pulse from Rs66 to Rs74 per kilo.

In Peshawar, the price of dates jumped up from Rs60 to whopping Rs200 per kilo, while besides the prices of different pulses, chicken and eggs prices were also seen soaring. Eggs are selling at over Rs80 hiked from Rs60 per dozen.

In Quetta the situation is no better. Mutton price during the last one month surged by Rs40 selling at Rs520 per kilo besides chicken meat price has shot up to Rs300 per kilo