Prices of vegetables, fruits continue to increase

The prices of vegetables and fruits at the Sunday Bazaars of G-6, G-10, and H-9, held under the umbrella of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), witnessed a considerable increase compared to last Sunday (January 15). This week, the prices of vegetables, including potatoes (Rs 86 per 5 kilogrammes), ginger (Rs 80/ kg), garlic (Rs 80/kg), tomato (Rs 40/ kg), green chili (Rs 95/ kg), witnessed a slight increase. According to the last week’s rate list, potatoes were sold at Rs 80 per 5 kilogrammes, while the other vegetables were sold at Rs 76, 76, 32 and 90 per kilogramme, respectively. This week, oranges, eggs and desi eggs were sold at Rs 100, 111 and 160 per dozen, respectively. However, their price had been Rs 90, 110 and 150 per dozen last week.
Moreover, the price of ladyfinger also increased from Rs 120 per kg to Rs 122 per kg, brinjal from Rs 40 per kg to Rs 42 per kg, while the price of cucumber increased from the last week’s rate of Rs 56 per kg to Rs 60 per kg this week.
Amna, a housewife, said that the vendors were selling the same quality edibles at different rates as there were no checks on them by the concerned authorities. She said that under such circumstances, it was very difficult for people to run their kitchen.
The demand for several vegetables, including onion, green chilies, garlic, cabbage and bitter gourds increased manifold on this Sunday, however they were found to be out of the common man’s reach due to their high rates. CDA Chief Inspector at H-9, Haider Imam, said they were making all possible efforts to facilitate the citizens at the Sunday bazaars. He said that the CDA officials were visiting the bazaars periodically to address the complaints of the public. He said that it was also a responsibility of the citizens to inform the administration about any problems.
He said that they had ticketed eight vendors at H-9 bazaar, five at G-6 bazaar and six at G-10 bazaar for overcharging and misbehaving with customers. Haider said that the CDA had appointed supervisors at all weekly bazaars to check the prices, adding that the administration had fixed the prices at a lower rate than the open market.