Inflation Hits Marot Businesses, Consumers Hard (By Sohail Siddique, Bureau Chief Bahawalpur Division)
Bahawalpur: Growing inflation and continued fluctuations in the prices of essential commodities have severely affected business activities in Marot, while traders and citizens are facing increasing financial difficulties due to rising household and business expenses.
Local traders and residents said frequent changes in petroleum product prices were also affecting the prices of food items, resulting in continued instability in the rates of various daily-use commodities. They said rising prices had not only disrupted household budgets but also adversely affected purchasing activity in local markets.Citizens said the prices of basic food items, including meat, vegetables and fruits, were increasingly moving beyond their purchasing capacity. They said families with limited and middle incomes were finding it difficult to meet their daily needs, while inflation was forcing consumers to significantly reduce their purchases.
Residents also complained that despite the availability of official price lists, effective implementation was not visible at some places. As a result, consumers were reportedly being charged different prices for the same items at different shops.The citizens demanded that the district administration and relevant departments ensure regular monitoring of markets, strict implementation of official price lists and effective action against profiteering.
The trader community said that rising inflation, increasing business costs and declining purchasing power of consumers were collectively affecting commercial activities. According to traders, although customers continued to visit the markets, their purchasing volume had decreased considerably compared with the past, putting small shopkeepers and other businesses under additional pressure.The residents of Marot urged the district administration and concerned departments to take practical measures to control the prices of essential commodities, ensure strict compliance with official rate lists and provide relief to the public.They said meeting daily necessities was becoming increasingly difficult and called for immediate and effective measures to address the situation.
