Prices surge ahead of Ramazan

Islamabad

Come the fasting month of Ramazan, the prices of kitchen items always surge mostly due to profiteering. Things are no different this time around.

The prices of almost all essential and kitchen items have begun going up with the start of Ramazan less than six days away. During the last week, the prices of 15 essential item have registered an increase of six percent.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the prices of 15 items the prices of which have soared since last week included ghee, cooking oil, ‘channa’ pulse, ‘maash’ pulse, eggs, rice, chicken, and potato.

As per the Bureau, a decline in the prices of 10 items was also registered during last week. These included tomato, onion, liquefied petroleum gas, sugar, ‘moong’ pulse, ‘masoor’ pulse, red chillies, and wheat flour. Their prices came down by seven percent on average.

Similarly, the in sensitive price index the inflation rate hovered at 0.06 per cent. According to the Bureau, for the lowest Rs8,000 per month salaried segment of the society, the inflation declined minimally while for the remaining salaried groups this rate remained 0 to10 per cent. The people have demanded effective price control by the district administration through crackdown on profiteers, for their relief.