Edible rates cut as people start Eid shopping

LAHORE
Prices of majority of fruits and vegetables have decreased after half of the holy month has passed but the government has failed to control overcharging.
The surging trend was recorded in the rates of all essential items two weeks before the Ramazan which sustained until first 10 days of Ramazan. However, now the rates have registered downward trend as the public attention has diverted towards Eid shopping. The government has established special Ramazan bazaars across the province while the chief minister, ministers and other elected representatives have been continuously visiting these bazaars on the daily basis which is the appreciating step of the government. Contrary to this, none of the government officials has looked towards the open market where consumers are being fleeced by the vendors. The chief minister himself ignored the open market which caused artificial food inflation in Ramazan.
This is the fact that all public cannot buy edibles from these special Ramazan bazaars while majority is still buying from open market and nearby shops where the vendors are heavily overcharging them. In open market and nearby localities shops, 20 to 50 percent hike witnessed in the prices of all essential perishable items. This phenomenon is created only due to special Ramazan bazaars, which is being focused by the government. The government thinks that by successfully arranging special Ramazan bazaars it has controlled food inflation which is actually ‘self-denial’ status of the government. This week the price of potato soft skin was reduced by Rs6 per kg, fixed at Rs24 to 26 per kg, hard skin at Rs10 to 12 per kg, sugar-free at Rs15 to 17 per kg, while hard skin was sold at Rs26 per kg. The onion price was declined by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs32 to 35 per kg. The tomato price went down by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs35 to 41 per kg.
Garlic China was reduced to Rs118 from 124 per kg, garlic local fixed at Rs85 to 92 per kg, while local was sold at Rs120 per kg.
Ginger China was down by Rs31 per kg, fixed at Rs180 to 185 per kg, ginger Singapore at Rs125 to 133 per kg, while it was sold at Rs180 per kg. Lemon A quality was fixed at Rs140 to 150 kg, B quality at Rs102 to 110 per kg, while it was sold at Rs150 to 160 per kg. Spinach was gained by Rs9 per kg, fixed at Rs20 to 25 to per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Brinjal was reduced by Rs6 per kg, fixed at Rs8 to 10 per kg. Cucumber local was stable at Rs18 to 20 per kg, cucumber farm at Rs8 to 10 per kg, while both were sold at Rs25 per kg. Bitter gourd was declined by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs18 to 20 per kg. Zucchini local fixed at Rs30 to 35 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg. Green chilli was fixed at Rs20 to 25 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg. Capsicum was down by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs35 to 39 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. Pumpkin was declined by Rs3 per kg, fixed Rs10 to 15 per kg.
Luffa price was fixed at Rs20 to 25 per kg and sold at Rs30 per kg. Ladyfinger was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs30 to 35 per kg. Arum price was declined by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs55 to 60 per kg. Carrot Chinese was fixed at Rs45 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg, cabbage was fixed at Rs30 to 35 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg.
The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs70 to 264 per kg, while sold at Rs160 to 300 per kg. Melon local was fixed at Rs35 to 40 per kg, melon Chinese at Rs30 to 35 per kg, while local was sold at Rs40 per kg. Watermelon was fixed at Rs10 to 15 per kg, sold at Rs20 per kg. Banana A quality was fixed at Rs90 to 95 per dozen, B-quality at Rs60 to 65 per dozen, sold at Rs100 to 160 per dozen. Peach special was fixed at Rs120 to 133 per kg, and peach normal at Rs75 to 80 per kg, while it was sold at Rs100 to 135 per kg. Plump special quality was fixed at Rs140 to 150 per kg, B-quality at Rs80 to 86 per kg, mixed sold at Rs120 to 160 per kg. Apricot white special fixed at Rs130 to 135 per kg, Apricot B-quality fixed at Rs115 to 130 per kg, both sold at Rs140 to 160 per kg. Mangoes of different varieties were fixed at Rs35 to 110 per kg, sold at Rs80 to 120 per kg. Dates of different variety were fixed at Rs142 to 168 per kg, sold at Rs160 to 240 per kg. Peer was fixed at Rs88 to 94 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg. Pomegranate local was fixed at Rs130 to 140 per kg, sold at Rs180 to 200 per kg. Grapes sunderkhani was fixed at Rs220 to 230 per kg, sold at Rs260 per kg, grapes Gola black at Rs120 to 132 per kg and sold at Rs160 per kg.