Media blamed for price-hike
LAHORE – District Nazim Mian Amer has blamed the media for inducing traders to blackmarket the essential commodities during Ramazan.
Briefing newsmen on the steps taken by the City District Government for ensuring the availability of essential commodities at fair prices in Lahore on October 24, the nazim said the prices were increased during Ramazan as media had started predicting the price increase before the advent of the holy month and continued clamouring about the same throughout the month.
He said ensuring availability of essential commodities at fair prices and checking hoarding and profiteering during Ramazan was the responsibility of the CDG, and it was doing everything possible to meet it. He said the traders could not refuse to sell the essential commodities at fixed prices because these had been determined in consultation with their representatives.
He said the retail price of sugar had been fixed at Rs21 per kilo at a meeting presided over by the chief secretary, and it was being sold at the same price. The price of guava had reduced from Rs40 per kilo on the first of Ramazan to Rs20 by now. The price of potatoes had increased from Rs17 per kg on Saturday to Rs23 per kg on Sunday due to a disruption in supplies from Swat.
He said not only the small shopkeepers were being punished for overcharging but the managements of super stores were also being taken to task. Only the managements of super stores had approached him to protest against prosecutions. He said the CDG could not control the meat prices and supplies because of high prices of animals and the slaughterhouses being under the control of town municipal administrations. The CDG had, however, ensured the availability of mutton and beef at Rs150 and Rs60 per kg at Ramazan Bazaars.
District Officer (Revenue) Malik Mohammad Bakhsh said 55 traders had been jailed for three days to 15 days for overcharging after a summary trial and FIRs lodged against another 181. Fines totalling Rs950,000 had also been imposed on the traders for overcharging.
He said the CDG had ensured availability of essential commodities at fixed prices at 15 Sunday Bazaars and 16 Ramazan Bazaars. Fruits and vegetable prices, however, fluctuated in accordance with the supplies. The prices of potatoes, tomatoes and onion had been stabilized by increasing the supplies.
Source: Dawn
Date:10/25/2004
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