Ramazan price hike: Profiteers benefit as prices of consumer items escalate
Ramazan brings no concession for the common. Prices of fruits and vegetables raised exponentially.
LAHORE/ ISLAMABAD/ MULTAN/ PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – The government has thrust the public onto the mercy of the profiteers lurking for the opportune time to make money – Ramadan. The prices for the fruits are raised by 30%. Potatoes and onions are being sold at rupees 80 and 60 per kilogram, respectively; whereas, gram flour 90, mutton 800 and chicken 270 rupees per kilogram (kg).
Hoarders and profiteers have started making money. The government apparently seems helpless to encumber the situation. The prices for fruits and vegetables have hiked up to 30% in all the major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Multan. Potatoes that were sold for an amount of rupees 50-60 a kilogram a couple of days back are now being blatantly sold for 80 rupees per kilogram. Onions, now 60, were for 40 rupees per kilogram. The tomatoes once sold for 55 are being offered for 75 rupees. Lemon 180, peas 160 and ginger for 320 rupees per kg and the price for green chilies has reached up to 90 rupees per kg. Likewise, pumpkins, ladyfinger and bitter gourd are being sold for 10 to 20 rupees extra.
Mangoes that were 120 per kg are now for 140 rupees. 120 rupees per dozen, bananas are put on the market for 200 per dozen. Apples that were for 180 rupees are being sold for rupees 200 now. Apricots are for 115 whereas dates that were sold for 120 have reached 180. Before Ramadan the price for basin was 50-70 per kg and now, one has to buy them for 70-90 rupees. The price for meat has risen aggressively high with mutton being sold for 800, beef from 640 to 400 and chicken from 220 to 270 rupees per kilogram. Yogurt once 60 is now sold in the market for 80 rupees and milk is for 60 rupees instead of 50 rupees per liter.
