The fearless vendors in the Sunday bazaars, in the absence of price magistrates, officials from the City District Government Lahore (CDGL), livestock and food departments and the market committees, openly charged exorbitant prices for fruits and vegetables. Overall escalating trend in the prices of fruits and vegetables was registered this week as compared to the last week at the Sunday bazaars of the city.
Visitors were of the view that this hectic exercise of placing these bazars was not more than an assembly of profiteers and sub-standard commodity sellers. Most of the shoppers were of the view that the main emphasis of the market committee officials and other departments’ representatives was only to show off that masses were being facilitated while they were not. An interesting observation was that the attendance registers at the bazaars showed full attendance despite the officials’ absence.
The market committee and the livestock department of the CDGL have again failed to fix the price of chicken lower to the open market price. Chicken (meat) price in Sunday bazaars was recorded at Rs 160 per kilogram whereas Chicken (live) price was Rs 80 per kilogram.
Sunday bazars at the Ravi Road and Islam Pura were left at the mercy of vendors who charged their own rates while focus of all the district government authorities remained at the bazaars in Shadman Colony, Wahdat Road, Model Town and Gulshan Ravi as these venues were often visited by the government high ups.
This lethargy of the concerned departments has showed that the shoppers’ impression about the Sunday bazaars was very correct and these must be wrapped up if the concerned district government authorities could not pay attention, said a visitor.
Despite higher prices a record business was recorded this Sunday and an unexpected increase in the customers’ number was witnessed as compared to the last many weeks. It provided ample opportunity for the vendors to cash in high especially amidst the absence of monitoring authorities. Ample supply of flour and sugar was recorded in all Sunday bazaars.
Official price of potatoes is slightly` increased by Re 1 per kilogram and fixed at Rs 25 to Rs 29 per kilogram as compared to last week price of Rs 24 to Rs 29 per kilogram. Potato stored rate was fixed as Rs 16 to Rs 18 per kg as compared to last week’s rate of Rs 15 to Rs 18 per kg. Official price of Onion was Rs 26 to Rs 32 per kilogram, but it sold Rs 28 to Rs 35 per kilogram, whereas last week it stood at Rs 24 to Rs 30 per kg.. The vendors have been selling C-grade onion Rs 30 per kilogram while B-Grade Rs 35 per kilogram while A-grade onion was not available.
The market committee Lahore fixed tomato price for Sunday bazaar Rs 40 to Rs 45 but it was being sold Rs 45 to Rs 50 per kilogram as compared to last week rates of Rs 45 to Rs 50 per kg.
Cucumber price decreased by Rs 10per kilogram and fixed Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kilogram from last week price of Rs 70 to Rs 95 per kilogram.
The green chilli recorded a reduction of Rs 10 as it was fixed at Rs 50 to 60 per kg as compared to Rs 60 to Rs 70 per kg of last week. Maximum overcharging is recorded in green chili. it sold Rs 65 to Rs 85 per kilogram. Similarly, vendors have charged Rs 35 to Rs 50 per kilogram for lemon against the fixed price of Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kilogram as compared to last week rates of Rs 30 to 40 per kg.
Garlic desi price escalated by Rs 10 per kg and was fixed at Rs 200 to Rs 210 per kilogram from last week price of Rs 190 to Rs 195 per kilogram. Garlic (China) price also increased by Rs 10 per kg and fixed at Rs 190 to Rs 200 per kilogram but it was being sold Rs 210 per kilogram.
The price of ginger china was Rs 180 to Rs 185 per kilogram registering an increase of Rs 25 per kilogram from last week price of Rs 155 to Rs 160 per kilogram and ginger India price also increased by Rs 5 per kilogram fixed Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kilogram from last week price of Rs 75 to Rs 80 per kilogram.
The prices of spinach increased by Re 1 per kilogram and sold at Rs 10 to Rs12 per kilogram against the last week price of Rs 9 to Rs 12 per kg.
Seasonal fruits rates also surged. Different species of orange is sold Rs 22 per dozen to Rs 40 per dozen. Kinow is sold Rs 20 to Rs 35 per dozen but not available, Malta Rs 22 to Rs 28 per dozen, Musmai Rs 35 to Rs 40 per dozen.
Apple Kala Kolo pahri price was Rs 38 to Rs 60 per kilogram as compared to last week rates of Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kg. Apple Amri price also increased by Re 1 and fixed at Rs Rs 25 to Rs 30 and Apple white price was increased by Rs 2 and fixed at Rs 22 to Rs 25 per kilogram.
The Guava rate decreased by Rs 5 and fixed Rs 30 to Rs 50 per kg from Rs 35 to Rs 50v per kilogram. Banana was available at Rs 20 to Rs 35 per dozen.
