RAWALPINDI:
Measures taken to control prices have proven ineffective as beef, mutton, chicken, fruits and vegetables are sold at arbitrary prices in the open market. Except for potatoes, almost everything became expensive and inflation peaked on the 19th of Ramazan.
A sharp rise in oil prices expected around Eidul Fitr is likely to trigger a new wave of inflation.
The seven days of the second Ashra of Ramazan have passed, but all measures taken so far to control inflation in the open market have failed.
Currently, bone-in beef is sold at Rs 1,400 per kg, while boneless beef is sold at Rs 1,600 per kg. Mutton is sold at Rs 2,600 per kg and chicken meat at Rs 600 per kg.
A dozen cleaned goat feet are sold at Rs 2,600 while four cleaned cow feet are sold at Rs 4,200.
Butchers and poultry sellers have set their own prices and further increases are expected before Eid.
The situation is similar in the fruit market where apples are sold at Rs 550 per kg, bananas at Rs 280 per dozen, guavas at Rs 250 per kg and kinnow at Rs 350 per dozen.
Among vegetables, potatoes are sold at Rs 120 per five kilograms, making it the only relatively cheap vegetable left amid the wave of inflation. Prices of all other vegetables increased during Ramazan.
Citizens say the abnormal increase in food prices in the open market must be controlled so that people can complete the remaining 11 fasts without facing the burden of inflation.
On the other hand, sellers of meat, chicken, vegetables and fruits claim that they can only sell their products after adding their expenses and profits to the purchase price.
At the same time, the expected sharp rise in oil prices from Ramazan 19 risks further intensifying the wave of inflation.
It is worth noting that the Punjab government took strict price control measures this year, but despite these efforts, the rise in inflation could not be contained.
