The financial aspect of the month of Ramazan is as upsetting as it is taxing. As the Ramazan preparations intensified, food items became the major point of reference in the build-up to the holy month. "Pindiites buy varieties of food items and fruits for the Ramazan. This upsurge in demand prompts small and major markets to go the extra mile in stocking up on their commodities," says Qambar Rizvi, a shopper in Saddar area. The prices of food items are at their all-time high this year. Pindiites are contending with increase in the prices of food and fruits, a situation a foodstuff trader, Yasir Naqi, attributes to market forces. "When it comes to the price of essentials, a section of corrupt businessmen manipulate the market in a manner that puts pressure on the middle and lower income consumers. Every year, prior to the start of Ramazan, these businessmen begin their market machinations," says Nazir Ali, an advocate. "Ordinarily traders should make daily use items not only available but also affordable for the consumers. Despite there being adequate supply of goods in the market, prices soar unreasonably and continue to rise throughout the month," says Muhammad Javad, a school teacher. Shoppers say the price increase is deliberate and artificial. "This has become the norm for traders who see Ramazan as their time to make brisk business and collect all the profits they could make in the year," says Masrur Zulfiqar, a private firm worker. But Mukhtaar Mahdi, who sells grains and other foodstuff, says: "The marginal increase in prices of foodstuff is occasioned by the scarcity of items. Mahdi insists that the increase in foodstuff has nothing to do with the Ramazan but happens because we don't get them easily as we used to in the past." "Notwithstanding the government's assurance that commodity prices would stay stable during Ramazan, the prices of essentials skyrocketed on the very first day of the holy month. I blame lax monitoring for the abnormally high prices," says Dua-e-Ali, a doctor by profession. "We the consumers are held hostages by the retailers as there is no government monitoring on the market," says Shiraz Hussain, a government employee. Another consumer, banker Azhar Alvi who was shopping at Raja Bazaar yesterday, said retailers hiked up prices of essentials based on their own whims during Ramazan. However, Iqbal Haider, a retailer at Commercial Market, Satellite Town, says there is nothing the small traders can do when the wholesalers in an attempt to make hefty profits hike prices in the name of supply shortage. He added that another reason why prices soared was because wholesalers had to pay many unauthorised tolls during their journey to the city. "The retailers in city markets cite a shortage in supply. However, during visits to different city markets, I have found that the traders had an adequate stock to sell to those buyers who had the extra money to spare," says Aqeel Abbas. In a city where most live in abject poverty, many are paying as much as six times the normal price for many food items. One shopper, Kazim Ali says increased prices have further impoverished many, as sellers know that customers are willing to pay higher prices. "They feel that people are in need of these products so they inflate the prices," says another shopper, Athar Zaidi. "There is hardly any reflection of the government's assurances in the market, and the prices are gradually slipping beyond people's buying capacity," says Nazakat Hussain, a mediaman.
