Karachi: Consumer Association of Pakistan Chairman Kaukab Iqbal expressed his gratitude and saluted consumers of Pakistan for supporting boycott campaign of expensive fruits. Talking to media representatives on last day of boycott campaign he specially thanked Zafar Abbas of JDC, Faizan Rawat,  business community, social media activists, celebrities, anchors and ex-officio members of Consumer Association of Pakistan and women wing of CAP.

He said that prices of consumer goods and essential goods are beyond purchasing power of middle class.  While poor man works day and night to feed his children. But despite this, he is not able to support his house. Profiteers have made month of Ramadhan source of income for whole year. It has made it impossible to sell at rate fixed by government. Despite fact that Sindh government has issued Ramadhan Ordinance, which includes fine of up to Rs one lakh, up to sale of goods at government prices by sealing shop but profiteering is probably in blood of profiteer. Especially prices of fruits which were low before Ramadhan suddenly started selling with an increase of 200 to 300 percent from first day of Ramadhan. Keeping this situation in mind, campaign of boycott of expensive fruits was started which got 90 percent results. From hawkers to big stores, consumers were not buying, which forced profiteers to cut their prices.

Its results affected city markets as well as vegetable market. It seems that like European countries, consumers of Pakistan have also come to exercise their right due to awareness and awareness, profiteers were forced to kneel down. Kaukab Iqbal said that if consumers unite on platform of Consumers Association of Pakistan, no profiteer will have courage to make profit by increasing prices unjustifiably and in same way adulteration, hoarders. Sellers of substandard goods can be taught lesson. Kaukab Iqbal said that milk is being sold for forty rupees more in Karachi while official price is fixed at Rs 180 per kg, curd, which is special Ramadhan item is being sold at arbitrary prices. It is warning to milk sellers that if they do not ensure sale at official price, boycott campaign will be launched vigorously and systematically against them.  He thanked Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for issuing Ramadhan Ordinance and said that it is necessary for government machinery to ensure implementation of this Ordinance so that consumers can get benefit.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 30 2023

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