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Express Tribune
06-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sugar crisis worsens in Pindi
The sugar crisis further worsened in the twin cities on the fifth Ramazan on Thursday, prompting the Kiryana Merchants Association to announce a suspension of sugar sales starting today (Friday). Sugar completely vanished from government-subsidised bazaars and stalls and was sold at Rs170 per kilogramme in the open market on Wednesday, raising questions about the district administration's price control measures during the holy month of Ramzan. The association's president, Saleem Pervaiz Butt, said that retailers cannot buy sugar at Rs163 per kg and sell it at Rs164 per kg, as their transportation, packaging, loading, and labour costs amount to Rs10 per kg. He demanded a profit margin of at least Rs10 per kg for retailers, outright rejecting the government-mandated price of Rs164 per kg. Butt further highlighted that sugar prices are rising daily, with the price of a sugar sack increasing regularly. Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hassan Waqar Cheema has warned shopkeepers that selling sugar above Rs164 per kg will result in store closures, legal action, and arrests. Faced with these restrictions, retailers have no choice but to halt sugar sales, the association's office-bearer said and added that instructions have been issued across all divisions, and starting Friday, sugar will be completely removed from store shelves. The Kiryana Merchants Association also pointed out that before this, the Poultry Retailers Union and the Mutton and Beef Retailers Union had also gone on strike due to government-fixed prices. The association urged the government to set sugar, meat, and poultry prices in line with market supply. Despite passing five days, the price control magistrates appeared to be utterly helpless in regulating the prices of essential food items and beverages for Sehri and Iftar. Prices of vegetables, fruits, and other items for Sehri and Iftar have increased, while sugar is not available even at government-subsidised markets and stalls. Due to the lack of subsidies at the Utility Stores, all the stores in the city are presenting a desolate picture. Since the start of Ramazan, the rising prices of vegetables and fruits have continued unabated. In the open market, ghee is being sold at Rs500 per kg, oil Rs520 per litre, mutton Rs2,400 per kg, beef Rs1,400 per kg, gram flour Rs400 per kg. Vendors are selling coriander leaves (which are given free with vegetables) at Rs30 per bunch, potatoes Rs90 per kg, onions Rs100 per kg, garlic Rs800 per kg, ginger Rs600 per kg, peas Rs100 per kg, tomatoes Rs150 per kg, and lemons Rs200 per kg. Banana is being sold at Rs300 per dozen, oranges Rs400-500 per dozen, guava Rs250 per kg, apple Rs300-400 per kg, pomegranates Rs450 per kg, melons Rs250 per kg, gram flour Rs400 per kg, chickpeas Rs390 per kg, samosa Rs500 per dozen, pakora Rs600 per kg, and kachoris is being sold at Rs190 per piece.
Express Tribune
28-01-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Soaring prices push citizens to the brink
RAWALPINDI: Households across Pakistan continue to grapple with a staggering 30-40 per cent hike in the prices of essential commodities. Despite government interventions, inflation relentlessly impacted every aspect of daily life, leaving citizens reeling. Efforts to stabilise prices failed, with manufacturers adopting subtle tactics like reducing the quantity in packaged goods without lowering costs. For instance, a 1-kilogramme pack of tea now weighs 900 grams, while sacks of flour and other staple goods have similarly shrunk in weight. Yet, prices remain unaffected, if not higher, exposing consumers to an ongoing squeeze. A snapshot of last year's price escalation reveals the grim reality. Rice, which sold for Rs280 per kilogramme in January 2024, now costs Rs380. Ghee has jumped from Rs450 to Rs550, while cooking oil climbed from Rs500 to Rs560. Pulses like Black Lentils saw a meteoric rise from Rs350 to Rs560 per kilogramme. Similarly, milk prices inched up from Rs200 to Rs220 per litre, and spices now cost Rs500 per kilogramme, up from Rs350 at the year's start. Other items have followed the same trend. Ginger, garlic, bakery goods, and even roti and naan have seen price hikes that disproportionately affect consumers. A cup of tea, which was Rs50 last December, now costs Rs80, while naan prices rose from Rs25 to Rs30. Tandoor (oven) operators cite increased flour costs and subsidy cuts for the shrinking size of red flour bread, forcing labourers to double their purchase just to meet their basic dietary needs. The situation has been exacerbated by spiralling fuel costs, with petrol and diesel prices directly impacting transportation and supply chain expenses. Central Grocery Merchants Association President Saleem Pervaiz Butt attributed the inflation to a combination of rising fuel prices, government taxation, and a weakening rupee. He warned that the trend shows no signs of abating. Efforts like the Punjab government's "Sasta Sahulat Bazaars" have also failed to provide relief, with 16 markets and 24 subsidised cart bazaars shutting down due to mismanagement and soaring costs. Even official price lists issued by the District Market Committee (DPC) have become unreliable, with open-market rates often exceeding them by Rs40 to Rs100. With no immediate solutions in sight, the relentless rise in living costs paints a bleak picture for the coming year, particularly for low-income groups who bear the brunt of inflation's crushing weight. The crisis extends beyond food. Livestock prices have surged dramatically, with buffaloes now costing Rs0.8 million to Rs1 milliona steep increase from last year's Rs0.5 million to Rs0.6 million range. This rise is attributed to a 300 per cent hike in fodder costs, as per Chaudhry Khurram, Vice President of the Cattle Union. Shafiq Qureshi, President of the Nanbai Association, highlighted that flour prices continue to climb monthly, predicting even higher rates in 2025. The cost of a 50-kilogram sack of flour has already risen from Rs6,900 to Rs9,000 this year alone.
