Price hike of essentials unjust

Consumers across the nation are bearing the brunt of high prices of essential food items, and there is no solid reason for the price rise. For the last couple of months, the onion crisis has created much unrest and now, add to that the recent issue with vegetables and spices.

All my life, I’ve seen that during winter months, most of the vegetables tend to be priced fairly as there is an abundance. However, compared to last year, 2020 poses a threatening start for consumers. In comparison to last year, this year the prices of ginger, garlic, lentils, sugar, tomato, bitter gourd, beans, cinnamon and fish among many other daily cooking essentials have seen hike in prices.

Such an increase is absurd. It clearly reveals that the market is being manipulated by cronies for their own benefit. Strict supervision is of utmost necessity. The government must intervene to regulate the matter immediately.

Nafees Ahmed Noor, by email