Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Ramdan Package is likely to lose its meaning in the wake of possible imposition of taxes on essential commodities and food items in the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2016-17 and unholy nexus of profiteers and hoarders in jacking up prices before advent of the holy month of Ramadan.

According to market rates, sugar is being sold at the rate of Rs 70 per kilogram, Mash pulses at the rate of Rs 280 to 290 per kilogram, Dal Chana at Rs 150 per kilogram, Broiler chicken at Rs 200 per kilogram, banana Rs 120 per dozen, white apple Rs 100 to 200 per kilogram, mango Rs 150 per kilogram, lemon Rs 400 per kilogram, milk Rs 120 per kilogram, 10 kilogram bag of wheat flour Rs 400.

The statistics provided by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics are far less in the perspective of weekly inflation. On the other hand the shopkeepers have increased prices to alarming proportion but the district management is showing apathy towards the arbitrary increase in prices of essential commodities by retailers.

Government has announced a special Ramadan package of Rs 1.75 billion to provide essential commodities to people on subsidized rates during Ramadan. This relief is restricted to utility stores only.

About 5000 Utility Stores are operating in urban areas across the country at present while the rural population deserves for subsidy but government has taken no measures to provide relief to them.

The shopkeepers have started raising the rates despite announcement of Ramadan package due to lack of checking system by government.

According to a survey conducted by Daily Times, onion is being sold at the rate of Rs 50 per kilogram in local markets in Islamabad while potato Rs 30 per kilogram, tomato Rs 40 per kilogram, green chilli at the rate Rs 120 per kilogram. Lady finger is available at the rate of Rs 100 per kilogram, gourd at the rate of Rs 60 per kilogram.

In the Abpara market beans is being sold out at the rate ranging between Rs 130 and 150 per kilogram, Dal masoor at the rate of Rs 170, black gram Rs 130, white beans Rs 120, gram pulses Rs 150, Mash pulses Rs 290, Moong pulses Rs 170 and sugar Rs 70 per kilogram.

At utility stores, beans is available at Rs 118 per kilogram, Masoor pulses the rate of Rs 120, black gram Rs 110, white beans Rs 100, gram pulses Rs 120, Moong pulses Rs 158 and sugar Rs 56 per kilogram.

In Rawalpindi markets Moong pulses is available at Rs 155 per kilogram, gram pulses Rs 150, Masoor pulses Rs 150, Mash pulses Rs 260, white beans Rs 100, black beans Rs 130, grains Rs 150 and sugar at the rate of Rs 50 per kilogram.

These prices negate the statistics released by Pakistan Statistical Bureau. About this marked difference in prices, several questions were asked from Chief of Pakistan Statistical Bureau Asif Bajwa but no satisfactory reply was given by him.