18-HAZARI: The rising cost of essential commodities has added to the financial hardships of citizens in 18-Hazari, with daily wage workers and low-income families bearing the brunt of persistent inflation.
Prices of basic food items, including cooking oil, pulses, rice, flour and other household necessities, have continued to increase, making it increasingly difficult for ordinary families to manage their monthly household budgets.
The price of second-grade cooking oil has reportedly increased from Rs540 to Rs570 per kilogram, while prices of pulses, rice, flour and other essential commodities have gone up by Rs20 to Rs50.
The continued increase in food prices has particularly affected labourers and daily wage earners whose incomes have remained largely unchanged.
Residents said that a daily wage of around Rs1,000 was no longer sufficient to meet even basic household needs. “If we spend a large portion of our daily wage on cooking oil, there is hardly enough money left to buy other essential items,” said a local resident.
Citizens also expressed concern over the impact of fluctuations in petroleum prices on the prices of other commodities. They said that whenever fuel prices increased, the prices of transport and essential goods also went up, while the benefit of any reduction in petroleum prices was rarely felt by ordinary consumers.
The continuous rise in prices has severely affected low-income and middle-class families, forcing many households to cut down on their daily necessities. Residents said that the situation had made it increasingly difficult for them to afford a balanced and adequate diet.
Citizens called for effective implementation of the price-control mechanism and strict action against profiteering and overcharging in local markets. They also demanded that any relief resulting from a reduction in petroleum prices should be passed on to consumers.
The residents urged the Punjab government and the district administration to take immediate and practical measures to control inflation, ensure the availability of essential commodities at officially notified rates and provide genuine relief to the poor and daily wage workers.
Reported by: Asif Shahzad I 18- Hazari , Jhang
