RAWALPINDI:
Price control measures have proven ineffective as beef, mutton, chicken, fruit and vegetables are sold at arbitrary prices in the open market. Except for potatoes, almost everything has become expensive and inflation has reached a peak on the 19th of Ramazan.
A sharp rise in oil prices expected around Eidul Fitr is likely to trigger another wave of inflation.
Seven days of the second Ashra of Ramazan have been completed, but all measures taken so far to control inflation in the open market have failed.
Currently, boneless beef is sold at Rs1,400 per kg. kg, while boneless beef is priced at Rs1,600 per kg. kg. Mutton is sold at Rs 2,600 per kg and chicken at Rs 600 per kg.
A dozen cleaned goat trotters sell for Rs 2,600, while four cleaned cow trotters cost Rs 4,200.
Butchers and poultry sellers have set their own prices and further increases are expected before Eid.
The situation is the same in the fruit market where apples are sold at Rs 550 per kg, bananas at Rs 280 per dozen, guavas at Rs 250 per kg and kinnow at Rs 350 per dozen.
Among vegetables, potatoes are selling at Rs120 for five kilos, making them the only relatively cheap vegetable left amid the inflationary wave. The prices of all other vegetables have increased during Ramazan.
Citizens say that the abnormal rise in food prices in the open market should be checked so that people can complete the remaining 11 fasts without facing the burden of inflation.
On the other hand, sellers of meat, chicken, vegetables and fruits say they can sell goods only after adding their expenses and profit to the purchase price.
Meanwhile, the expected sharp rise in oil prices from 19th Ramazan is likely to further amplify the inflationary wave.
It may be noted that the Punjab government had taken strict price control measures this year, but despite these efforts, rising inflation could not be contained.
