The New Nation - Internet Edition

WHILE the energies of the government remain engaged mainly in political tasks, price monitoring and control, probably calls for more attention. The commerce adviser had earlier aired an idea of constant price monitoring leading to improved price control of essential goods. A permanent price control mechanism along with new and updated laws, plus institutional mechanisms to enforce government's price control measures, were pledged and thought to be on the way. But nearly five months down the road since then, the price monitoring cell and its activities are little heard about by the hard pressed consumers.

It was reported that the cell has not yet got premises from where to organise and do its work regularly. It is only doing shabby work from temporary and shifting locations at different government offices. Besides, the laws to support its activities have not been updated. More importantly, the institutional capacities to help with enforcement decisions of the cell are still in the realm of conceptions only. Thus, it is no surprise that price normaliszation or stabiliszation moves have gone simply haywire.

This lack of emphasis in price control activities is starkly seen in the price hrike afresh of essential commodities. It had been pledged that about 12 core commodities-mainly kitchen items-would be identified and all-out efforts made to keep their prices from irrationally rising. But little has been heard about this move also from that time. Meanwhile, prices of rice and potatoes, the basic staples, have marked rise. Their price hikes are considered by the people as unreasonable. Similar upward movement of prices of other essentials are also noted which are accentuating the hardships of common consumers. It is high time for the government to act. Very great public interests are also involved in effective price control.