By Shabbir Mir in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2014.
GILGIT: Though fuel prices have been slashed by the government, the benefit is yet to trickle down to the people in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).
“The prices of grocery and other daily commodities are still soaring,” said Imtiaz Khan, a resident of Gilgit, on Friday. “We were expecting a considerable decrease in prices of daily items transported to Gilgit but that has not happened,” he complained.
Most of commodities are transported to G-B from Rawalpindi via the Karakoram Highway since the local food industry is not sufficient for subsistence. Prices double by the time the goods reach G-B, due to transportation costs based on the 600km journey.
Altaf Hussain, a vegetable and fruit vendor, said retailers cannot reduce prices on their own. “We buy from fruit and vegetable markets and the prices there are still unchanged,” he added.
Hussain said a dozen bananas cost him Rs70 which he sells at Rs85. Meanwhile in Rawalpindi, the same would cost a shopkeeper Rs50 at most, he explained.
“The matter should be investigated seriously,” said G-B Minister for Minerals Muhammad Naseer. “We will take the issue up and ensure the relief is passed on to G-B,” he told The Express Tribune.http://tribune.com.pk/story/787465/in-a-pickle-grocery-prices-remain-unaltered-in-gilgit/
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