Grocery merchants threaten strike over govt-enforced prices

RAWALPINDI: The Grocery Merchants Association in Rawalpindi and Punjab has announced plans for a complete strike in response to the government’s enforced implementation of official grocery prices.

The association is criticizing the lack of a transparent pricing mechanism for essential items like pulses, white chickpeas, sugar, flour, and ghee.

According to Saleem Pervez Butt, President of the Central Grocery Merchant Association, the government has failed to establish a proper pricing mechanism despite previous agreements.

This has led to merchants resisting an official mandate requiring them to sell food items at retail prices of Rs50 lower than wholesale rates.

For instance, the wholesale price for chickpeas is Rs410 per kg, but the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner has set the selling price at Rs330 per kg. Similarly, the profit margin for sugar is only Rs3 per kg, while costs exceed Rs10.

Butt also highlighted that district commissioners have not convened Price Control Committee meetings for three months, resulting in arbitrary pricing decisions without consultation.

The association claims district administrations are imposing fines of Rs50,000 on small grocers, making it impossible for them to sell items at lower prices when purchased at higher rates.

The association is demanding a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister  Maryam Nawaz to address concerns about pricing policies. They urge district commissioners to identify wholesale dealers selling essential items at lower prices, enabling retailers to comply with official rates.