Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ The district administration’s recent closure of sugar and rice wholesale markets in Rawalpindi has sent ripples through the garrison city, exacerbating the already critical sugar crisis. Responding to this pressing situation, the administration has given approval for the establishment of dedicated stalls inside markets on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, aiming to furnish consumers with affordable sugar. According to officials, these designated stalls will offer sugar at discounted rates. Furthermore, the administration has devised a plan to deploy trucks at strategic intersections across the city, thus facilitating access to reasonably priced sugar. In contrast, the open market remains devoid of new sugar price announcements.
Insiders with knowledge of these developments reveal that the shuttering of the sugar wholesale market on Monday precipitated a disruptive interruption in sugar supply chains and sales. Consequently, retailers across urban and suburban areas have initiated sugar hoarding practices. Sugar has virtually vanished from store shelves, leaving only a scant amount available for purchase. This scarcity, coupled with the absence of economical sugar stalls, has coerced vendors to sell sugar at an exorbitant rate of Rs 190 per kilogram. As of the present moment, sugar prices show no signs of abating.
Information emanating from the deputy commissioner’s office discloses ongoing efforts to establish stalls offering affordable sugar throughout the district, with implementation expected later this week. These stalls will require customers to show their identification cards when purchasing discounted sugar, with a capped limit of 2 to 5-kilogram sugar bags per identification card. The official announcement concerning this endeavor was made during Tuesday’s meeting presided over by the commissioner and deputy commissioner. Simultaneously, the urban city has witnessed an uptick in rice prices, primarily attributed to the suspension of rice supplies ensuing from the wholesale market closure.
Additionally, escalating electricity tariffs and surging wheat prices have collectively contributed to an inflationary surge, driving the cost of flour to an unprecedented Rs 180 per kilogram. In a countermeasure, the Rawalpindi administration has intensified its operation against hoarders. According to a district administration spokesperson, the authorities have embarked on rigorous crackdowns targeting sugar hoarders, involving raids on various secret storage facilities. Notably, 13 warehouses in Tayyaba Market, Rattaamral, were sealed on Sunday night, resulting in the confiscation of over 1,000 sugar bags, each weighing 50 kilograms.
Additionally, five shops in Dalgaraan and Naswar Bazaars were shuttered for indulging in sugar hoarding practices. The deputy commissioner has issued directives to relevant authorities, urging them to take stringent action against sugar hoarders, emphasizing the relentless continuation of these operations. According to the district administration spokesperson, citizens have also been urged to report any illegal sugar hoarding activities. The seized sugar will subsequently be released into the open market at stipulated rates.
