The prices of fruits and vegetables increased significantly ahead of Ramazan in Sunday bazaars of the city. The prices of most of fruits and vegetables rose while chicken and tomato rates slightly decreased as compared to those of the last week. This Sunday prices of potato, onion, ginger, ladyfinger, cauliflower and cabbage registered a significant increase.
Similarly, the prices of apple and mango also increased as compared to the rates of the previous week. According to Sunday bazaar’s rate list, potato sold at Rs 34 per kg as compared to the last week’s rate of Rs 32, onion sold at Rs 22 against Rs 18, Ginger at Rs 100 whereas its rate was Rs 96 per kg last week, and ladyfinger sold at Rs 24, higher by Rs 2 than the previous week’s rate of Rs 22.
The prices of black pepper and lemon registered a significant increase. This week the prices of lemon registered an increase of Rs 16 per kg. It sold at Rs 96 whereas its rate was Rs 80 last week. The prices of black pepper also witnessed an increase of Rs 12 per kg for it was sold at Rs 72 as compared to its previous week’s rate of Rs 60.
Apple golden was sold at Rs 180 per kg, apple (gajani) at Rs 110, banana at Rs 50 per dozen, mango (sindhri) Rs 80 and Anwar Rathor at Rs 90 per kg. However, the prices of tomato which faced ups and downs during last few weeks registered a decrease of Rs 8 per kg. This week it was sold at Rs 32 whereas its rate on last Sunday was Rs 40 per kg. Similarly, the prices of chicken also witnessed a decrease of Rs 10 per kg. This week it was sold at Rs 147.
Talking to Pakistan Today, the visitors of Sunday bazaars lodged many complaints against the city managers. “It is a yearly routine. Before the start of Ramazan, the shopkeepers at Sunday bazaars increase the prices of fruits and vegetables in connivance with the city managers,” said Muhammad Ilyas who came to G/6 Sunday Bazaar from Bari Imam. He added that the stall holders would further increase prices during the first week of Ramazan as well.
Another visitor, Ali Usman, said that inflation and price hike had made it impossible for the common man to run his kitchen. However, shopkeepers were of the view that they had nothing to do with price hike and contended the prices had increased in the wholesale market.
