JHELUM VALLEY: (Azadi Times) – The Jhelum Valley administration has come under fire for what locals are calling a “joke” in the name of Sasta Bazar. A fruit and vegetable stall was set up in front of the Municipal Office in Hattian Bala, ostensibly to provide goods at lower prices. However, the rates at the so-called Sasta Bazar were found to be no different from those in the general market, causing widespread disappointment and frustration among the public.
Residents reported that acquiring a 20-kilo bag of flour involved standing in long lines, only to find that the price was ten rupees higher than the official rate. The process was cumbersome, requiring photocopies and enduring lengthy waits, exacerbating the frustration.
By the second day of Ramadan, shopkeepers in major bazaars were selling daily necessities at arbitrary rates, with no intervention from deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, or police officers. The apparent inaction of these officials has led to a public outcry, with demands for intervention from the Prime Minister, Chief Secretary, and IG of Azad Kashmir.
Due to the lack of effective price regulation, essential goods have become increasingly unaffordable for the poor. The absence of a check-and-balance system in the markets has left many struggling to meet basic needs, with inflation driving some to the brink of starvation.
Residents have expressed their frustration with local representatives, accusing them of only being visible during election times. The failure to enforce fixed market rates and the lack of accessible food supplies from the Food Department have forced many to seek essentials from door to door.
Locals have demanded immediate and concrete measures from the Prime Minister, Chief Secretary, and IG of Azad Kashmir to address and curb the artificial inflation plaguing the Jhelum Valley. They stress that photo-op check-ins by officials are insufficient and call for genuine efforts to make necessities affordable and accessible to all.
The public sentiment is clear: they need an answer to why politicians and officials remain silent spectators in the face of such pressing issues. There is an urgent need for actionable steps to alleviate the burden of inflation and ensure that basic necessities are within reach for the poorest residents of Jhelum Valley.