Prices of essential items have continued to increase despite regular reviews of the situation by the government and promise to contain the trend and punish hoarders and profiteers.

ISLAMABAD: The country has seen a massive 36.3 per cent inflation since the present government came to power in 2008, with prices of two basic commodities, wheat flour and sugar, rising by 83 and 168 per cent, respectively.

According to official figures, the price of flour which was Rs16.41 per kg on Feb 21, 2008, shot up to Rs30.13 on Feb 4 this year — an increase of 83 per cent.

Sugar selling at Rs25 per kg on Feb 21, 2008, recorded a mind-boggling rise of 168 per cent to Rs70 per kg on Feb 4 this year.

The prices of ghee and cooking oil, two important kitchen items, saw an increase of 12 and 10 per cent, respectively, over the past two years. The price of ghee, which was Rs315 for 2.5kg in Feb 2008, is now Rs353.

It is worth mentioning that the Supreme Court has taken suo motu notice of the unprecedented increase in the price of sugar and the case is still pending.

The Competition Commission of Pakistan has also taken notice of what it terms cartelisation in the sugar industry.

The increase in prices of essential items has continued despite regular reviews of the situation by the government and promises to contain the trend and punish hoarders and profiteers.

Although the government is providing sugar at a subsidised price of Rs45 per kg through utility stores, people have to wait for hours in queues to buy the sweetener.