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Price Hike: Shopkeepers blame agency holders.

CHITRAL 01 June 09: The abnormally high prices of daily use essential items in Chitral bazaar is partly due to the road closure, security situation etc but a big part of it is self created by the shopkeepers and agency holders in the absence of any kind of checks and price control.

As an example one liter bottle of Pepsicola is being sold at Rs 70-80 in Chitral Bazaar against Rs 50 advertised by the company on Television and in newspapers. Although companies undertake the responsibility of bearing transportation expenses of their items to provide them at a standard price throughout the country where they have their agencies but in Chitral there is no 'Pooch guch'.

A prominent shopkeeper of Chitral bazaar disclosed to Chitral News that local agencies of big companies are making the kill, while retail  shopkeepers get the bad name. He added on request of not being mentioned by name, that when company officials visit Chitral, local agency holders oblige them by treating them lavishly and greasing their palms, upon which the inspectors turn a blind eye to all irregularities and return home with a 'sub Achha' (All well) report. --(CN report)

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