Fuel prices have surged over the past three days in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, triggering a significant increase in the cost of essential food items such as pulses, tomatoes, and onions, according to a report by Dawn.
Residents Allege Inaction by Local Administration
Residents have accused the local administration of remaining a silent spectator as daily fuel price revisions continue to drive up commodity costs. The continuous increase in fuel rates has led to daily hikes in food prices across the garrison city, with little action to control the situation.
Tomatoes are currently selling at Rs 500 per kg, onions at Rs 120 per kg, and cucumbers at Rs 300 per kg. The prices of pulses at retail outlets have increased by around 5 percent. Milk is being sold at Rs 260 per litre and curd at Rs 280 per kg. "It is difficult to pay electricity bills and buy edibles," a resident told Dawn.
Wholesale and Retail Challenges
Saleem Pervaiz Butt, Chairman of the Rawalpindi Karyana Merchant Association, said the prices of pulses and vegetables rose after the government imposed sales tax on vegetable oil, increasing its price to Rs 3,000 for a five-kilogram pack. Retailers are facing difficulties because wholesalers have raised the prices of pulses and wheat flour.
Butt explained that shopkeepers are compelled to purchase essential commodities from wholesale markets at higher rates, making it impossible to sell them at lower prices. The cost of pulses has risen by 5 percent due to increased transportation charges from supply warehouses to retail shops, as cited by the Dawn report.
Impact on Customer Footfall and Official Price Lists
Butt noted that although the Punjab government instructed price magistrates to impose hefty fines on shopkeepers, it did not revise the official price list after assessing prevailing market rates. The steep rise in food prices has reduced customer footfall in markets, leaving retailers struggling with declining sales. He urged the district administration to update the official price list of essential commodities in consultation with wholesalers and shopkeepers.
Transportation Costs Drive Vegetable Prices
Ghulam Qadir Mir, President of the Rawalpindi Fruit and Vegetable Association, told Dawn that vegetable prices have increased substantially, with tomatoes at Rs 500 per kg, cucumbers at Rs 300 per kg, onions at Rs 120 per kg, potatoes at Rs 80 per kg, and most other vegetables priced above Rs 150 per kg. He attributed the increase primarily to the surge in fuel prices, as transporters have started revising freight charges daily.
Mir noted that before the introduction of daily fuel price revisions, transport charges were generally adjusted on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly basis, but that practice has now changed.
Conclusion
The daily fuel price revisions in Rawalpindi have directly impacted the cost of essential food items, with residents and retailers bearing the brunt. While the government has instructed price magistrates to act, the lack of updated official price lists has exacerbated the situation. Both wholesalers and retailers are calling for urgent measures to stabilize prices and ease the burden on consumers.
