Edibles prices sky rocketing in Landikotal bazaar.

By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Consumers lamented officials for constituting a useless price control committee said that prices of daily commodities including meat and checkens are gradually going up in the past three weeks of the holy month of Ramazan in Landikotal bazaar.

The price control committee constituted a day beofore Ramazan fixed prices of each food items and distributed it in all shops in Landikotal bazaar. However,residents in Landikotal loged their complaints on social media that the prices of edibles have increased in the markets.

Talking to this scribe on Tuesday  Aftab,Ahmad Khan and Musa Khan said that despite the resuming import of sheeps from Afghanistan butchers in Landikotal bazaar not decreased prices of meat.

 "The price control committee completely failed to maintain prices as per the price lists issued by local administration", said Musa Khan,a local resident. He said still butchers and checken sellers were taking extra money from consumers. He said the price of meat was fixed Rs900 per Ser(1200grams) but butchers were selling it with their own choice. He said due to poor check and balance over the consumers goods vendor sellers were given a free hand to charge the price they want.

Aftab,checken buyer said checkens dealer also violating
the prices set by authorites in Landikotal bazaar.

"Not only prices are maintained but openlly unhygenic and substandered juices and cooked foods are being sold in Landikotal bazaar",Aftab said. He lamented the price controlcommittee headed by political tehsildar Landikotal Shamsul Islam and said that they did not paid repeated surprised visits to control the prices. He said the price committee comprises of journalists,officials and local elders were not taking keen interests to ensure the provision of quality foods to the consumers in the holy month of Ramazan.

However, butchers and other foods sellers said they can not sale foods and meat on the fixed prices issued by the authorities.They said if they follow the price list would go in  lose. They allged that Khasadars at various check posts situated on Jamrud-Landikotal road were taking money from each van and truck transporting different kinds of foods,checkens and meat from Peshawar to Landikotal bazaar.

A butcher,who did not wanted to be named,told this scribe that Torkham tehsildar and Pakistan customs officials were taking Rs450 per sheep being transport from Afghanistan.

 He said despite this amount paid on the way to Landikotal from Peshawar Khasadars deployed at Torkham border were also insisting to give them money for each sheep. He said if they were exempted of the illegal tax collected on each checkpost would further help reduce the prices. He said other goods including auto spareparts,foods items,fresh fruits and engine oil were being smuggled with huge quantity from Afghanistan mostly at night times.

When contacted political tehsildar and urged him for his version he said he would check the public grievances tomorrow.He did not commemted further on the people's reservations.