Prices of various food items, including pulses, cooking oil and flour have risen at utility stores across the country as government’s Ramazan relief package came to an end.
According to the new rate list issued by Utility Stores Corporation (USC) on Saturday, the discount of Rs 10 per kg being offered on dal mash and dal moong has been reverted while the price of flour has risen by Rs20 per kg.
As Shehbaz Sharif led government had announced additional subsidy in the prices of both sugar and flour soon after coming to power, increase in the prices of other essential items at USC outlets has come much as a surprise for common man.
Increase in prices of various items at utility stores will also further push up their rates in the open market.
Separately, prices of both vegetables and meat are also touching new heights and going beyond the reach of people.
The price hike had remained a major issue during the PTI government, which they failed to address and now people expect that new government would stabilise prices to some extent.
It must be acknowledged that coalition government has not increased prices of petroleum products despite their upward trends in the international market.
This is costing the government billions of rupees per month. We understand it is also not possible to extend subsidy on each commodity.
Nonetheless, the government must come up with a plan to provide a targeted subsidy to underprivileged segments of the society especially beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme at utility stores.
Simultaneously, the district administrative must be activated to take firm action against those elements pocketing undue profits from consumers.
An effective price control mechanism needs to be put in place to discourage profiteering. Controlling prices is a major test case for Shehabaz government.
Failure will also entail a political cost and opponents will use this in their favour to further increase pressure on the government.
Hence, this matter of price hike needs to be tackled head-on and given priority than any other thing.
The focus should also be on enhancing income levels of the people so that they could better cope with the inflationary trends.
