LARKANA:Massive price hike of all the commodities has broken the back of the already poverty-stricken people, specially daily wagers in Larkana, it was revealed in a survey conducted here on Saturday.
The retailers and wholesalers are minting money without any check by the Market Committees, assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners who have been authorized to conduct raids on shops but they have only visited bazaars for photo sessions. Price lists were not found at any of the grocery, fruit, vegetable, fish, mutton and meat shops. The survey was conducted in Larkana, Ratodero, Bakrani, Naundero, Dokri and various villages of Larkana district where rates of essential food items were found sky-rocketing.
Mutton was being sold between Rs1000 to Rs1200 per kg, fish Rs400 to 500 kg, chicken Rs380 per kg, ghee or oil Rs200 to 250 per kg, flour Rs80 per kg, Sella rice Rs200 per kg, Daal Rs280 per kg, sugar Rs110 per kg, onions Rs90 per kg, tomato Rs240 per kg, lady finger Rs120 per kg, potato Rs80 per kg, Palli Rs150 per kg, red chillies Rs700 per kg, apple Rs200 per kg, banana Rs80 dozen and pomegranate Rs180 per kg.
Green chillies Rs200 per kg, dry Chinese garlic Rs120 per kg, brinjal Rs90 per kg, spinach Rs90 per kg and cauliflower Rs100 per kg.
Prices of daily use food and other items have shoot up beyond the reach of common man and worst affected are the labourers, said different social welfare leaders including Faqir Ali Muhammad Kandhro, Shakil Kumbhar, Razak Sangi, Halim Soomro, Latif Keriyo, Ashique Abro and others while talking to this Scribe. They said that the government has failed to curb hoarders and profiteers mafia and traders have also gained a lot during the current situation which means the government has forgotten what its primary duties are, they added. They said shopkeepers are looting the poor with both hands and only two meals are hardly available for the daily waging labour class.
They urged the divisional and district Larkana administration to wake up, discharge their legal and moral duties for the benefit of those who cannot even afford two times meals and save the general public from the clutches of habitual offenders of law. They also demanded to take stern action against Market Committee officials who constantly rest in their homes for 11 months and only wake up during Ramadan.