LAHORE
The prices of fruits, chicken and vegetables were on an overall declining trend this Sunday but consumers had to compromise on quality. The prices decreased almost in all Sunday bazaars as the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) came back to life this weekend.
CDGL officials fined 12 shopkeepers for overcharging and providing low quality products but this action was not enough to control the prices and the quality at these bazaars. There was a visible decline in prices of fruits including bananas, apples, guava, kinnow and orange but prices of grapes increased this Sunday.
Similarly, the prices of potatoes, tomatoes, lemon, spinach and ladyfinger decreased while the prices of onion, ginger and garlic increased. Abdul Basit, a consumer, said though the CDGL has challaned shopkeepers but it was not enough.
“The shopkeepers selling substandard goods should be jailed” he demanded and said that the government should do revise legislation on such issues. Though the prices declined but still consumer turn-out was a bit low owing to the last days of the month.
“A large number of people don’t have enough money to shop in the last days therefore often there is low presence in Sunday bazaars,” said a vegetable vendor Asghar Ali.
“Next week, the presence would improve as majority of people would get salary and they would come to shop at Sunday bazaars,” he added. The middlemen have started stocking items as the Eid-ul-Azha was around the corner. Onion prices soared in the last two weeks touching Rs 38-42 per kg as compared to the last week’s price, Rs 24-28 per kg.
“The demand for onion, garlic and ginger increases during Eid days therefore the government should monitor the availability and prices of these items in the days to come,” said a housewife Sadia Baig while shopping at Model Town Sunday bazaar.
She complained about the quality of vegetables being sold at the bazaar and demanded, “The CDGL should take strict actions against the profiteers.”
