Vegetable prices continued their upward spiral at the Sunday bazaars of the capital showing no signs of a price decrease before the holy month of Ramazan which is just 17 days away.
“I’m a regular visitor to the G/6 Sunday Bazaar. The present price increase is unprecedented,” said Ali Akhtar who came from Bhara Kahu. He said that vegetable prices were so high that he has chosen not to buy them for the moment.
Although vegetable prices rose over the past week, fruit and chicken prices remained stable.
Prices of onion, ginger, bell pepper and ladyfinger witnessed significant increases. Surprisingly, tomato price fell by Rs 18 per kg as compared to the previous week. This week, bell pepper price witnessed an increase of Rs 10 per kg. It sold at Rs 60 per kg, compared to Rs 50 per kg last week. Ginger price rose by Rs 8 per kg. It sold at Rs 96, while last week it sold at Rs 88. An increase of Rs 6 was registered in the price of ladyfinger. It was sold at Rs 30 per kg.
The price of tori was Rs 36 per kg, brinjal Rs 30 per kg, bitter gourd (Kerala) Rs 30 per Kg, green chili Rs 40 per kg, lemon Rs 72 per kg, and garlic Rs 110 per kg.
Blaming the Capital Development Authority for price increase, people called it an artificial price hike. They alleged that the CDA officials have colluded with wholesale dealers to raise prices.
“Every year, prices of daily commodities go up before the start of Ramazan without justification, but authorities concerned always turned a blind eye,” said Jamila Naz, a visitor.
The price hike not only added to the difficulties of people but also affected vegetable vendors. Whining and whingeing about the price increases, some stallholders said it has caused a slump in their sales. “A few years ago when prices were affordable for the common man, out businesses were thriving then. I used to earn six to eight hundred rupees daily rupees daily, which was sufficient to make both ends meet, but now I earn only three hundred to five hundred rupees, which is a pittance,” said Ramzan Toor, a vegetable seller.
Another vegetable seller said, “We have nothing to do with price hike as CDA fixes prices,” he said.
