The Sindh government has decided to establish separate police stations across all divisions of the province, including Karachi, as part of a comprehensive plan to take effective action against price gouging of essential commodities as inflation has caused unrest among people.
A high-level meeting on price regulation of essential commodities was held under the chairmanship of Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for IT, Waqar Mehdi, and Special Assistant to the Bureau of Supplies, Usman Hangoro. The meeting, attended by Agriculture Secretary Sohail Ahmed Qureshi, Director General Bureau of Supplies and Prices Shakir Qayyum Khanzada, the Legal Manager of National Foods, and other officials, focused on implementing strict measures to control inflation and ensure affordability for the public.
During the session, the Agriculture Secretary and DG Bureau of Supplies provided a detailed briefing on current measures to stabilise prices. Waqar Mehdi announced that the Sindh government has decided to establish dedicated police stations to take stringent action against profiteers. The initiative aims to curb hoarding, price manipulation, and overpricing, ensuring essential goods remain within reach for consumers.
Mehdi emphasised that all warehouses across Sindh will be registered before Ramadan to prevent price gouging and hoarding. He instructed officials to set up special stalls in discount markets to offer essential commodities at regulated prices, ensuring affordability during the holy month. Additionally, he mandated the registration and strict monitoring of all cold storage facilities in Sindh’s vegetable markets, preventing them from inflating prices.
Usman Hangoro reinforced the government’s commitment to addressing price manipulation across the province. He stated that the newly established police stations will operate across Sindh, working in collaboration with the Bureau of Supplies and the police department. These enforcement units will be empowered to take swift action against hoarders and illegal price hikes.
Consumer Protection Measures
To enhance consumer protection, Hangoro directed that special monitoring duties be assigned across Sindh’s marketplaces. This initiative will ensure prompt responses to consumer complaints and uphold price stability. As part of this effort, vendors and pushcart sellers will be required to prominently display official price lists for fruits and vegetables, allowing consumers to make informed purchases.
In a significant decision, the meeting also approved the establishment of special spice stalls at discounted prices in Karachi’s discount markets. This measure aims to provide relief to consumers amid fluctuating prices of essential food items.
Crackdown on Overpricing
Highlighting recent enforcement actions, DG Bureau of Supplies reported that within the past three weeks, 272 business units were inspected in Karachi, leading to fines amounting to PKR 536,000. These inspections are part of a broader crackdown on businesses engaging in unethical pricing practices.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s inflation rate has dropped to a nearly decade-low level of 2.4 per cent in January, intensifying calls for further reductions in interest rates. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) significantly eased compared to the same period last year. This marks the slowest pace of inflation since November 2015 when the rate was recorded at 2.7 per cent.
Despite the decline in inflation, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet expressed concerns over rising prices of sugar, vegetables, and edible oil. The gap between headline inflation and the key policy rate of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has now widened to 9.6 per cent, raising questions about the central bank’s cautious monetary approach.
Last week, the State Bank of Pakistan had reduced interest rates to 12 per cent, marking a total cut of 10 per cent since the beginning of the fiscal year. However, the cost of borrowing remains significantly higher than the prevailing inflation rate, suggesting that further monetary easing may be necessary to stimulate economic growth and consumer spending.
The Sindh government’s latest initiatives reflect a proactive approach to mitigating the effects of price volatility. By establishing dedicated police stations, enforcing strict regulations, and enhancing monitoring mechanisms, the government aims to protect consumers from exploitation while ensuring market stability. These measures are expected to play a crucial role in price control, particularly with the upcoming Ramadan season.
