A sudden price hike in consumer products was reported earlier today just as the evening marked the beginning of the month of the holy month in Ramazan. The items whose prices have escalated include gram flour, potato, onions, tomato and mangoes among other products.
The reported reasons for the price hike include hoarding and overpricing by the retailers. Citizens kept complaining about the government’s failure in controlling the prices. The prices of potato, onions and tomato saw an increase in virtually all the major cities of the country almost as soon as the Ramazan moon was sighted.
Potatoes were sold for Rs 60-80 per kilogram whereas the prices of onions were raised from Rs 30 to Rs 50 per kilogram. Tomatoes that were priced at Rs 30 to 40 per kilogram earlier are now being sold for Rs 40 to 80 per kilogram.
Gram flour which is heavily used for snacks such as pakoras, samosas and other savoury delights which form the staple diet in Iftari and sehri, jumped from Rs. 50 to 70 per kilogram to Rs 60 to 80 per kg.
Lemon prices have been raised from Rs 80 to 120 per kilogram. The other items with effected prices include lemon, pepper, pumpkin, ladyfinger, karela (bitter gourd), and peas among other vegetables.
Consumers were also seen complaining about the substandard quality products being sold at the ‘budget Ramazan’ bazaars.
