Chairman Consumer Association of Pakistan Kaukab Iqbal announced a complete boycott campaign of Milk by consumers from Thursday; while addressing media persons in CAP office, he emphasized that earlier Government fixed price of milk Rs. 120/= litre.
On the other hand, profiteers selling Milk at the rate of Rs. 140/= openly without considering the value of law from the last few months. The authorized concerned could not take any action against these profiteers to control prices, i.e., instead of taking punitive measures, penalties and rigorous imprisonment, profiteers are free to do whatever they like. As a result, Dairy farmers, with the collaborations of intermediaries, successfully raised the price of Milk to Rs. 160/= litres, whereas Governments always fix the prices.
Moreover, he added that the daily consumption of Milk in Karachi is estimated as 70 lac litres. By the increase of Rs. 40/= per litres consumers have to borne the additional all financed burden of Rs. 28 crores daily whereas Rs. 8 Billion forty crore monthly. He categorically stressed that dairy farmers’ Associations has no right to increase milk prices at their level. In contrast, the Government has the power to fix the prices in the interest of consumers.
It has been observed that the Government set the prices dairy farmers Association raises the costs to Rs 10/= to Rs. 20/. He added that Consumers would not accept a current increase in milk prices. Consumers Association of Pakistan has declared a complete boycott campaign regarding milk usage by consumers.
Moreover, he said around the world, Consumers Associations organize boycott campaigns to control the prices of the commodities. He warned Dairy Farmers Milk Association to ensure the supply of Milk to consumers at the rates fixed by the Government; otherwise, he feared highly severe adverse reactions from the consumers if proper attention is not given to this warning, a strike force will be established to make the implementation on the law to establish the rule of law to control prices high powered price controller is needed at least for a month. He said consumers’ level of patience had reached the point of no return.
Unity of consumers is badly needed to combat this miserable situation, apart from the rise in polluted and contaminated milk prices. Malpractices have been very common regarding weights and measures in the supply of Milk to consumers. Hence, consumers are being looted from every end, which is unfortunate that government functionaries are helpless and silent before profiteers. The month of Ramzan ul Mubarak is coming soon. Consumption of Milk will increase, so the additional financial burden of Rs. 8 Billion forty crores monthly is a big robbery from Dairy Milk Farmer Association towards consumers. Expressing his deep regret on this situation, Kaukab Iqbal asked who would be responsible for such theft and demanded from Federal Minister Interior Sheikh Rasheed for immediate control of Prices of Commodities to Rangers countrywide.