Vegetable prices rise unchallenged

LAHORE: The government has failed to control vegetable prices during Eid season, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Lahore Market Committee pricelists and a market survey show an increase in prices of tomato, onion, garlic, ginger, green chili and lemon. Vendors increased prices of much needed vegetables on Eid’s eve by 25 percent, while lemon price increased by Rs 76 per kg. Imported Chinese lemon is being sold at Rs 80 to Rs 100 per kilogram in the retails markets or by the street vendors.
Pricelists show that the same lemon was available in the market at Rs 24 to Rs 34 per kilogram on November 1.
Green chili price increased to Rs 140 per kg during last 16 days. It was available at Rs 54 to Rs 69 per kg in the start of November while on Tuesday its price soared to Rs 120 to Rs 140 per kg. Tomato price escalated by Rs 26 per kg in a couple of weeks; currently settled at Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg tomato was available at Rs 34 to Rs 42 per kg on November 1.
Similar price of onion rose by 60 percent in last two weeks. Onion price has settled at Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg which was available at Rs 50 to Rs 55 per kg on November 1.
Pricelists show that garlic and ginger also registered an exorbitant price increase of Rs 88 and Rs 56 per kg respectively.
Figures show that garlic (China) was available at Rs 212 to Rs 222 per kg and ginger was selling at Rs 224 to Rs 230 per kg in the start of November, while on Tuesday, vendors sold garlic at Rs 300 per kg and ginger at Rs 280 per kg.
Lahore Market Committee official claimed that prices had increased because of commodity shortage but buyers have a different perception. A shopper hunting for bargains in vegetable store said that shopkeepers have artificially increased the prices of commodities on the pretext of flood and shortage.
He believed there was an active conspiracy aiming the common consumer, conducted by an unholy alliance between retailers, wholesalers and the middlemen.