Prices of food items up by 30pc due to coronavirus crisis

PESHAWAR: The prices of most food items, medicines and facemasks have recorded a significant increase after many people started stocking due to fear of prolonged lockdown.

Though some teams of the district administration and other departments concerned were seen raiding shops in Peshawar and other cities in a bid to keep a check on the prices, there were complaints that the businessmen at wholesale market and the retailers continued looting the public.

The prices have gone up by 30 percent or more in the suburbs and surrounding areas of Peshawar well as in the main trade markets in the cities. The businesses in the urban centres can be easily checked and monitored if there is a will.

The flour from Punjab was being sold for Rs1,150 per 20kg bag on Wednesday. The local flour that the government claims is selling at controlled rate is either not available or the quality is not good. The authorities concerned said they cannot regulate the price of flour coming from Punjab.“I bought flour for Rs1,150 per 20 kg while the prices of rice and all kind of pulses have increased by Rs40 per kg. I bought rice and red beans for Rs230 per kg from the main wholesale market while the prices of other pulses have increased by Rs35 to 40 per kg,” Waqar Ahmad, a local, told The News after visiting Rampura, Peepal Mandi, Ashraf Road and other markets. He added that the dealer told him the prices have gone up by Rs40 per kg since the start of the coronavirus crisis as people are stocking due to the uncertain situation.

He informed that the retailers are charging even higher prices while keeping their own margin of profit. He added that since there is no fear of action by the district administration, food and other departments, dealers are fleecing the people by increasing prices of gur, sugar, ghee, oil, drinks, bakery items and other food items.

On the other hand, the prices of some medicines and facemasks have also registered an increase in the wholesale market by 600 percent.“One medicine was available for Rs534 per pack before the COVID-19 emerged but today it is being sold for over Rs3,000. The prices of facemasks have risen to Rs1800 per packet of 50 though it was being sold for Rs120 or so earlier,” a medicine dealer from Namak Mandi told The News.

He informed that the rates were enhanced by certain dealers after the demand for certain medicines and facemasks increased manifold. “Some dealers are earning millions through blackmarketing and by creating shortage in the market,” he added.

Meanwhile, a crackdown has been launched on public transport and against people violating social distancing instructions in many districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The officials of the Traffic Police said 534 public transport vehicles have been impounded for plying on city roads despite the ban imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, another street in Ganj Gate locality in old Peshawar has been locked down after a woman tested positive for COVID-19. She had returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah recently. Police have been deployed at all the entry and exit points of the street to quarantine the residents.