Traders in Karachi have rejected the prescribed rates of Commissioner Karachi – File: Photo
Karachi: Traders in the city’s wholesale market closed their shops in protest while rejecting the prices of essential items issued by Commissioner Karachi. According to Express News, on Thursday afternoon, the shops and warehouses in Jodia Bazaar, the largest wholesale market in the country, were closed in protest. Earlier, the Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association had raised objections to the rate list issued by Commissioner Karachi.
Traders said that the prices of sugar and lentils in the government rate list issued for Ramadan by Commissioner Karachi are lower than the wholesale prices. They said that there is a difference of 25 to 40 rupees in lentils and 13 rupees in the price of sugar, making it impossible to sell at that price. On the other hand, selling at wholesale market prices would require facing raids and penalties, which is why business activities are being suspended in protest.
According to the Chairman of the Wholesale Grocers Association Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, lentils have become expensive due to the rise in the dollar, while Commissioner Karachi has reduced the prices of lentils by 30 to 40 rupees. He said that sugar mills are selling sugar at the rate of 135 rupees per kilogram, but Commissioner Karachi has fixed the price of sugar at 123 rupees.
Abdul Rauf Ibrahim said that if the government wants to reduce inflation, it should control the dollar and offer sugar at lower prices even from sugar mills.