Rising prices spark protests

Islamabad:The prices of all food and non-food items, including flour, pulses, packed milk, dry milk, vegetables, fruits, meat, and chicken, have increased significantly in retail markets. Some companies, including the government-run Utility Stores Corporation (USC), have not yet announced their new prices in open market, but they have warned of price hike ranging from 10 to 55 per cent in the coming days due to new taxes and duties.

In response to these price hikes, the All Pakistan Traders Association (APTA), transporters, mill owners, and the general public have announced a protest demonstration against what they view as unjustified taxes, inflation, and high fuel prices on July 10 (Wednesday). Similarly, the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has declared that they will stop wheat washing from July 10 and will halt wheat grinding from July 11 (Thursday).

A market survey conducted by 'The News' revealed the following price increases: a 15-kilogram 'Atta' bag has seen a price increase of Rs170, going from Rs1390 to Rs1560; 1 litre of packed milk has increased from Rs260 to Rs370; 200-grams of dry milk for children has gone up from Rs600 to Rs700; Daal Chana's price has risen from Rs240 to Rs300 per kilogram, and Daal Mash from Rs520 to Rs600 per kilogram. Additionally, all other pulses have seen price increases ranging from Rs15 to Rs25 per kilogram. The prices of all juices have increased by Rs20, going from Rs70 to Rs90, and the prices of all brands of ice creams have risen by Rs20 to Rs30 per piece.

Furthermore, butchers have raised the rates of mutton to Rs2500 per kilogram from Rs1600, and beef to Rs1200 per kilogram from Rs850. Chicken sellers are now selling 1-kilogram of chicken meat at Rs550. The prices of various vegetables have also risen significantly, with 1-kilogram of tomato priced at Rs220, onion at Rs110, potato at Rs110, Shimla Mirch at Rs180, cucumber at Rs120, Karela at Rs120, Tori at Rs100, Arvi at Rs130, Bengen at Rs120, cabbage at Rs130, garlic at Rs400, and ginger at Rs600.

Despite public protests and demonstrations against inflated electricity and gas bills, the federal and provincial governments have not addressed these issues.

The President of the All Pakistan Traders Association (APTA), Sharjeel Mir, along with other office-bearers, has announced a protest demonstration against what they see as the government's wrongful policies on July 10 (Wednesday). He criticised the government for imposing what they view as baseless taxes and duties, squeezing the public’s finances. He questioned the government's decision to increase bonuses and reliefs while imposing more taxes on the public.

The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has decided to halt ‘Atta’ supply from July 11 (Thursday), with all flourmills in Punjab, including Rawalpindi and Islamabad, in protest against the Withholding Tax imposed by the government. The retail price of sugar remains at Rs150/kg, as no further decrease has been observed in the wholesale market. It's important to note that public protests and demonstrations have been ongoing, targeting high electricity bills, prolonged power outages, and what the public perceives as an "anti-public" budget.