The prices of vegetables remained stable in the Sunday and Ramadan bazaars while those of fruits increased. The quantity of chicken also remained less than that demanded. A number of shopkeepers kept fleecing customers by selling second grade products at the rate of high grade products. Chicken remained in short supply in the bazaars because of retailers’ inability to maintain the government-announced rate of Rs 200 per kilogram.
Fish was also sold in the bazaars at rates higher than those in the open market thus it did not attract customers. The prices of vegetables remained stable; only the price of onion increased as it was sold for Rs 24 per kg against last week’s rate of Rs 20 per kg. The price of sugar-free potatoes decreased by Rs 1 per kg as potato was sold for Rs 23 per kg. In fruit, the prices of apples increased by Rs 5-15 per kg to Rs 105-125 per kg, while last week apples were available for Rs 95-110 per kg.
Most customers complained that the administration of bazaars was not checking the quality of products, hence allowing vendors to double-cross customers. “Shopkeepers are selling second grade products at higher rates,” said Mehreen Saeed, a housewife at Township Model Bazaar, adding that the administration needed to control the vendors. Around 90 percent stalls of chicken also remained deserted. The customers said the city district government failed to provide chicken at lower rates.
“I could not find chicken at any stall,” said Mujahid Jamshed, a customer at Johar Town bazaar.
