By Matiullah Khan
Rawalpindi, Pakistan: Unfortunately every year the Holy Month of Ramazan arrives, the prices of fruits and vegetables witness hike across the Country, making it difficult for low-earning people to buy the food commodities.
Even the prices of fruits and vegetables in various markets throughout the Country began to soar prior to the commencement of the fasting month. However, the concerned authorities seem completely vanished when it comes to control the price hike in Ramazan.
Even though the federal and provincial governments set up Ramazan Bazaars in various areas wherein food commodities are sold at lower rates but yet people hardly get any relief.
Therefore, a big campaign has been launched on social media against fruits buying due to exceptional sky rocketing increase in prices.
Through the Fruit Boycott Campaign, people are being asked not to buy fruits from June 2 to June 4 so that profiteers could be compelled to lower the prices of fruits as their will be less demand in the market.
Meanwhile, like other parts of the Country, the prices of fruits and vegetables have also increased in the Federal Capital during Ramazan in Sunday bazaar and other sectors markets including sector G-8, Tipu market, G-9 markaz, G-7 market and F-10 Markaz and many other several markets.
According to Ramazan Bazaars rate list, potato sold at Rs 39 per kg, onion at Rs 28, Ginger at Rs 112 and ladyfinger were sold at rate of Rs 44 per kg.
Apple golden was sold at Rs 180 per kg, apple (gajani) at Rs 110, mango (sindhri) Rs 80 and Anwar Rathor at Rs 90 per kg.
Talking to media, a visitor Ahmed Fareed in Ramazan Bazaars said that it is a yearly routine during Ramazan, the shopkeepers at Sunday bazaars increase the prices of fruits and vegetables which, he said, should not happen in the holy month.
Likewise, another visitor Ali Yaqoob also criticized increase of prices of fruits and vegetables especially in the month of Ramazan which creates problems to manage and the run the kitchen for the poor.
When contacted the local administration, an official said that our teams raided several shops in different sectors markets and caught many shopkeepers who were selling the edible on higher rates.
“We had also directed them to display the price lists of products in their respective shops,” the official said.