Delayed decision!
The UNB report on the matter published in all dailies on 19 July, about urgent import of pulses, edible oil, sugar and chick-pea is a delayed decision taken by the Hon. Prime Minister. Realistically, even with all urgency and speed, the minimum time needed from ordering to availability of these important Ramadan food materials will be at least over two months, if not more! How can it reach buyers with Ramadan in mid-August?
If we rationally analyse the procurement process, then the period from tender notice to getting responsive and competitive offers, it will take at least three weeks. It will take minimum ten days for evaluating the offers, its approval and the opening of telegraphic letter of credits.
Another five to six weeks are needed before the ships reach port with the consignment, goods are cleared and delivered to government godowns. We can safely add another week for the goods to reach the retailers via whole-sellers! Assuming that we started from 20th July, it would not be available before the end of September in any manner! This is well after Eid-ul-Fitr; and if we follow the PPR (public purchase rules). it may not be available in the shops before Eid-ul-Azha!
The only option for the government is to go to the established bulk importers directly, for quick offers, by email or fax. Invariably the price will be higher by at least 10 to 15 percent! For immediate shipment, to reach before Eid, it will need air shipment in which case the landed price can well be more than double! Given this scenario, our present stockist and whole-sellers will naturally jack up their prices of materials that they have and still it will be cheaper than the price, if the above quick import procedure by the government directly, is followed!
At the end of the day, the poor consumers will suffer, all because of this un-explainable delay in government decision making! One wonders, why this purchase decision could not have been taken in early May? We all knew the day when Eid will be celebrated given a day or two at most!
Who is responsible for this colossal mess? Will the honourable publicly elected democratic government let the voters know which is their right, if one may say so the underlying reasons for this unexplainable delay?
After all, as we all know the saying: "a stitch in time; saves nine". For us, the 'nine stitches' will be the abnormally high prices that we will be forced to pay, or do without these luxuries for once that we eagerly look forward to every year!
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