Prices fall and so does quality

0
113

LAHORE: Vegetable prices decreased at the Sunday bazaars while chicken prices increased on this Sunday. The buyers complained about the quality of vegetables and fruits and the security too remained poor while the district management remained indifferent to the situation. Though the prices decreased, a number of vendors kept selling at higher rates. The administration of Sunday bazaars remained absent and did not bother about public complaints.
The consumers at Sunday bazaars in Johar Town, Green Town, Model Town, Shadman and Shalimar complained that low quality vegetables were being sold at high prices. Per kg price of onion declined by Rs 3, garlic and ginger by Rs 2, tomato by Rs 6 and peas by Rs 5. Similarly, fruits’ prices also decreased, as apple prices came down by Rs 7-10 per kg while bananas decreased by Rs 5-8 per dozen.
“The vendors are selling vegetables at rates higher than prescribed and nobody is taking action,” said a buyer Abdullah at Johar Town Sunday bazaar.
He said it had become a routine that vendors charged high and the management was never concerned. Another consumer Tariq Mehmood at Green Town Sunday bazaar said the city administration had not arranged extra security for Sunday bazaars and these markets were vulnerable. He said no one had checked the entry points nor any police official had been deputed for security purposes.
“Instead of protecting such sensitive places the police are protecting politicians, while masses are left at the mercy of terrorists,” He said the politicians were only meant to enjoy protocol and condemn sad incidents. “Virtually, they are useless and fail to protect and provide for the basic facilities,” he lamented. The official price for chicken meat was Rs 145 per kg but in many areas it was sold for Rs 150 per kg. The chicken prices have shown an increasing trend after Eid-ul-Azha, when it was sold for Rs 120 per kg.
Last week, it increased to Rs 135 per Kg. The stakeholders anticipated that chicken price will increase further in the coming weeks, as the stocks in poultry farms were less than the demand. “In the last two months, the farmers have decreased the poultry stocks due to low prices therefore it is expected that prices will increase,” said a poultry farmer Hafeez Akhter. A chicken seller Abid Ali at Model Town bazaar said, “Last week, I sold around 40 kg of chicken meat and this week the sales crossed 50 kg.”