On Saturday, elected municipal representatives established a “Sasta Bazaar” in Hyderabad’s Latifabad number 12 to relieve the economically disadvantaged amid soaring inflation.
Union Council 109 officials said the Sasta Bazaar initiative featured numerous stalls with volunteers selling vegetables at reduced prices.
At exceptionally low prices, the market offered onions, potatoes, tomatoes, bitter gourds, peas, and other vegetables. A significant crowd gathered at the bazaar, eager to purchase vegetables at subsidized rates—only Rs10 per kilogram. The initiative was well-received, with both men and women expressing gratitude and hope for an end to the prevailing inflation.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported a 3.97 percent rise in the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) year-on-year for the week ending January 2. Despite this annual increase, inflation for the combined consumption groups declined slightly by 0.07 percent.
The report from PBS highlighted that sugar prices rose for the fifth consecutive week, increasing by Rs1.31 per kilogram. Additionally, prices for 18 essential commodities have escalated, including a Rs42.07 per kg increase in chicken and a Rs6.37 per kg rise in onion prices. In contrast, the prices of 10 commodities, such as tomatoes and potatoes, have decreased by Rs34.41 and Rs6.32 per kg, respectively.
The price fluctuation underscores the ongoing challenges in managing inflation and the cost of living, prompting community-driven solutions like the Sasta Bazaar to mitigate the impact on Pakistan’s poorer populations.
