The government gave a free hand to vendors and shopkeepers to make the most of the last day of Ramazan as government price controlling officials also went on holidays after performing one-month ‘hectic duties’ of controlling prices of edibles which remained uncontrolled.

Following the absence of government officials including elected representatives who made “successful” visits to special Ramazan bazaars throughout the month for photo sessions and media attraction were also absent to look after Lahoreites who were at the mercy of artificial price hike before Eid and during Eid holidays.

Weekly makeshift markets of the city were established without the supervision of any government officials who gave a free hand to vendors to make the most of Eid by charging their own prices. The supply of fruits and vegetables was also halted in the central fruits and vegetables market of the city as truckers also went on Eid holidays while suppliers and Arthies and their staff are also on holidays.

Now during Eid holidays, no fresh vegetable or fruit will arrive in the market and no auction would also be held there. In such a situation, no official rate of perishable commodities would be released while vendors and stockist would fix rates by their own.

Ch Ijaz, an Arthi in the Badami Bagh fruits and vegetable market, said that truckers who mainly belonged to KPK were already back to their native areas on the 27th or 28th of Ramazan, anticipating Eid earlier than the rest of the country. Truck drivers of Punjab also left for their native villages and towns during the last two days. Thus no fresh supply of perishable items will arrive in the city at least three days and only stocked items would be sold.

Besides, the import of vegetables and fruits from India also halted on Friday as custom officials went on five-day long Eid. This means no supply of fresh vegetables from India too during Eid days.

The real impact of the break in the perishable items supply will be witnessed soon after Eid and rates of fruits and vegetables would jump upward. However, it will start easing out soon after the supply of perishable items resumes.

On Sunday, onion and potato new was sold at Rs 40 to 50 per kilogram with a sudden jump from Rs 30 per kilogram. Tomato rates also jumped upward to Rs 80 to 120 per kilogram which was somewhere around Rs 30 to 40 per kilogram just a couple of days before. Similarly, prices of garlic and ginger also crossed Rs 100 and sold up to Rs 120 per kilogram from few days back rates of Rs 50 to 60 per kilogram. Green chili was sold at Rs 80 per kilogram and lemon at Rs 140 to 160 per kilogram from their two days before rates of Rs 40 and 80 to 100 per kilogram respectively. Capsicum was sold at Rs 120 per kg from Rs 40 per kg and carrot Chinese at Rs 80 per kilogram from previous rates of Rs 20 to 30 per kg.

Coriander was sold at Rs 80 per 100 gram from Rs 30 per 100 grams while mint was sold at Rs 15 per bundle from Rs 5 pee bundle. Rates of different variety of apples ranged between Rs 100 and 140 per kilogram from Rs 50 to 70 per kilogram. Mango prices varied between Rs 70 and 120 per kg from Rs 40 to 80 per kg.