LAHORE – Vegetable and fruit prices decreased for the second consecutive week at the city’s Sunday bazaars. Almost all vegetable prices including garlic, ginger, tomatoes, peas, apples, bananas and guavas came down while onion prices also fell owing to a ban on exporting the commodity to India.
Both customers and vendors expressed joy on the reduction in prices. Vendors said that sales had increased by 15 to 20 percent because of low prices.”When vegetable prices were high, sales decreased but as soon as prices reduced, sales are increasing,” said vendor Shaukat Hussain adding that high prices also make customers angry.
“Customers often used to quarrel with me on higher prices but now at least there are no teasing words from customers,” he added. Another vendor Mohsin Ahsan said that sales had increased around 15 percent. “I sold around 70 to 80 kilogrammes of onions while previously, sales hardly touched 50 to 60 kilogrammes,” he added.
Citizens hailed the federal government for banning export of onion to India saying that the federal government could provide relief to people if it is serious. “If vegetable prices could be controlled then prices of other commodities could also be controlled and only a strong will is required in this regard,” said customer Shahbaz Ahmed at the Model Town Sunday bazaar.
He said that right policies could bring a good name to any government. Housewives were quite happy purchased double quantities. “With low vegetable prices, at least my kitchen budget would be controlled,” said housewife Attiya Khan adding that she purchased double quantity of onion, garlic and ginger. “Who knows that next week prices of these items would double,” she lamented.
