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Traders in Rawalpindi Defy District Administration’s Prices, Sell Groceries at Open Market Rates

The ongoing dispute between traders and the district administration in Rawalpindi has led to the sale of grocery and food items at open market rates, rather than the prices set by the authorities. This disagreement arose before the start of the holy month of Ramazan, when all sectors, including grocery, dairy, meat, bread, vegetables, and fruits, rejected the prices determined by the deputy commissioner, considering them to be a major joke.

According to the traders, the prices set by the DC office for essential commodities do not reflect the current economic reality. As a result of the increase in the value of the US dollar and fuel prices, the cost of all items has surged by 500%. Consequently, shopkeepers are openly disregarding the DC rates and selling items like pulses, rice, gram, milk, gram flour, meat, and bread at their own rates.

If we compare the official prices with those in the open market, it is evident that the official price of white chickpeas is Rs325 per kg, while they are being sold for Rs450 per kg in the open market. Similarly, the DC rate of black chickpeas is Rs240 per kg, compared to Rs350 per kg in the open market. Similar differences can be observed in the rates of other items such as basin, red lentils, groundnut pulse, urad bean pulse, basmati rice, eri tota rice, open milk, yogurt, mutton, beef, bread, and naan.

DC Hassan Waqar Cheema has decided to leave the prices of green chilies, sugar, flour, ghee, oil, and juices to be determined by the open market.

Saleem Pervez Butt, the president of the Grocery Merchant Association, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the DC rates and announced that the sale of items whose prices are determined by traders will be halted until further notice.

Khawar Gujjar, the vice president of the Gawala Union, highlighted the rising costs associated with milk production. He mentioned that the purchase price of a single buffalo has soared from Rs250,000 to Rs700,000, and the price of fodder has increased by 500%. He also stated that the per liter milk price will rise to Rs220 and the price of yogurt will increase to Rs240 after Eidul Fitr.

Shafiq Qureshi, the president of the Nanbai Association, criticized the government for failing to decrease the prices of flour, gas, electricity, and petrol, while exerting pressure on bakers to reduce the price of bread. He revealed that the cost of a sack of flour has reached Rs13,200, and a sack of fine flour now costs Rs14,500. In light of these rising costs, the prices of bread and naan are being increased by Rs5 during the holy month. The Nanbai Association will hold a general council meeting to decide on a further increase in the bread rates.

Arshad Qureshi, the vice chairman of the Meat Union, pointed out that the prices of mutton and beef have remained unchanged since 2010. He requested that the administration revise the prices to reflect the current market conditions, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to sell meat at cheaper rates.

It is clear that the dispute between traders and the district administration has had a significant impact on the prices of essential commodities. While the administration has set certain prices, traders are opting to sell their goods at open market rates. Consequently, consumers are left with no choice but to purchase these items at higher prices. To find more information about the rice exporters and suppliers mentioned in this article, visit their websites at [rice exporters], [pakistan rice exporters], [white broken rice], [pakistan rice], [rice suppliers], [rice exporters from pakistan], [25% broken rice], [pakistan rice supplier], [pakistan rice supplier], [pakistan rice companies], [rice mills in pakistan], [rice business in pakistan], [rice suppliers pakistan], [pakistani rice prices], [irri 6 rice price], [basmati rice price list], [rice export from pakistan], [pakistan rice export prices], [rice exporters in pakistan], [irri 6 rice exporters pakistan], [rice suppliers in karachi], [basmati rice pakistan], and [broken rice exporters].

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