Food prices continue to rise

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: The rise in food prices during the last few months has increased the misery of the working and low-salaried people.

There appear to be no checks on the prices of many foodstuffs. Increases in the costs of gas, electricity and petroleum products have resulted in an increase in the cost of other items.

The concerned government departments have failed to enforce mandated prices.

A market survey revealed that the price of a 5-kilogramme tin of vegetable ghee has increased from Rs 365 to Rs 395 during the last two months while a 20-kilogramme bag of flour has increased from Rs 220 to Rs 270. Even the price of milk has increased by Rs 2 per litre.

Ashiq Hussain, a flour dealer, said flour was once available for Rs 11 per kilogramme. During the past year, its price reached Rs 14 per kilogramme. Gul Wazir, a fruit dealer, said oranges were sold for Rs 12 per dozen, but now they are sold for Rs 20 per dozen.

He said the cost of all types of fruit had increased. “No government officials is present to monitor the prices of fresh fruit in the market. The policeman only comes to collect bribes from the dealers,” he said. However, Provincial Food Minister Fazl Rabbani told Daily Times that during the last few months, grocery prices had shot up by 20 percent and the central government should decrease the central excise duty to give relief to the public.

Home | National