Sir: There are ten basic food items that the common man of our country uses daily. These are flour, rice, milk, vegetables, pulses, ghee, salt, red chillies, sugar, and tea. It is an unfortunate but common observation that an ordinary man spends all his earnings on buying these items. With every passing day, however, he is finding it hard to even buy these things. Inflation has nipped into the purchasing power of these poor souls. It is, therefore, suggested that the government fix minimum official rates for these necessary things and then ensure that those prices are not tampered with. Those who violate would be brought to book either by imposing a heavy penalty or by imprisonment. This would enable the ordinary citizens of Pakistan to purchase at least necessary items of daily use at government controlled rates. UMME RUBAB Karachi