The hoarders and profiteers have succeeded to turn the calamity of coronavirus into an opportunity of earning inflated profits by restricting supplies of food commodities to the retail market. The data of a number of cities and rural areas in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa shows that the price of 20 kilogram bag of wheat flour has gone up from Rs.850 to Rs. 1200. A week ago it witnessed a modest increase of Rs.60 as wheat flour bag of the same quantity was sold for Rs.910. Prices of sugar, pulses and vegetables are also on the rise.
Both the wholesalers and retailers are blaming the fresh high price spiral on supply disruptions, citing withholding stock of non-perishable commodities by cartels and transportation problems of perishable food items. Whatever may be the reasons for once again shortage of commodities of daily consumption, it is for the provincial government to find a solution by approaching the Federal Ministry of National Food Security. Minister of this ministry MakhdoomKhusroBakhtiar said the other day that abundant and smooth supplies of essential food commodities shall be ensured across the country.
