MARDAN
The district administration has failed to provide commodities to the people as per government rates. The people showed concern over the artificial price hike in commodities, it was learnt by the News.
Vegetables and fruit sellers are overcharging the masses without fear and being fined or arrested by the administration in different bazaars and vegetables and fruit markets.
The main bazaars including Charsadda chowk, Kasi Bazaar, Pakistan Chowk, Par Hoti and vegetables and fruit markets of the city witnessed altercation between the customer’s and shopkeepers but the officials don’t visit to ensure commodities of daily use are sold as per official rates. The district administration, food department and livestock issued the price list but on one shopkeeper is ready to display the price list.
The prices of essential commodities like milk, yoghurt, minced meat, meat, poultry and mutton have also increased but the local administration has failed to control the rates.
A shopkeeper said on the condition of anonymity that the representative of the district administration did not visit the bazaar and if any representative of the administration officials visit the bazaar once or twice in a week and fined four or five poor shopkeepers.
He added that the city has small markets and bazaars and it is very easy for the district administration to check the whole bazaar within two or three hours, but the authorities have no time for the public relief to properly check the markets.
The prices of vegetables, fruit and other commodities are different in various bazaars and markets. Residents of the city urged Chief Minister and Chief Secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to ensure that the district officials perform their duty on daily bases honestly, and impose fine on those shopkeepers and vendors who were indulging in profiteering and price checking should be given to such officers who could also pay visit to markets to reduce the problems of the citizens.
