PESHAWAR: Due to lack of check and balances by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and district administration, the prices of basic food items have increased manifold in the provincial capital, Peshawar.
The flour dealers said that the supply of wheat to flour mills in Punjab has been suspended by the government which can led to blockade of flour supply from Punjab and flour shortage in the province.
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The flour dealer furthered that KP government should take serious steps and raise the issue with Punjab government to avoid blockage of wheat and floor supply. The flour dealer said that due to the ongoing inflation, consumers have lost purchasing power and thus traders are also facing lack of customers and financial difficulties.
Due to price-hike, bakers in Peshawar have announced protest on Tuesday to fix the price of bread at Rs20-30. Meanwhile, The Food Department has also compiled an investigation report, saying thousands of official sacks of flour are being sold in the markets instead of supplying it to deserving families.
The consumers said that the daily increase in prices of food items in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has put the people in a difficult position. He said that the district administration has adopted a complete silence on the issue of price-hike. Prices of vegetables, fruits and pulses have skyrocketed due rupee depreciation against dollars and rising prices of petroleum products.
The government employees and low paid workers, day laborers are worst hit by the crisis and indebted to due to their rare resources. In Peshawar, chicken is available at Rs241 per kg, eggs at Rs200 per dozen, milk at Rs140 to 160 per kg. Ginger Rs430 to Rs500 per kg, ghee at Rs360 per kg, gram at Rs190 and rice at Rs160 in the open market. Other foot stuff such as basin, onion, potato, cauliflower, green chilies, peas and other vegetables are now beyond the reach of common man.