Vegetables, fruits’ prices remain high in Sunday Bazaars

LAHORE

Prices of number of vegetables and fruits remained high in Sunday Bazaars and elsewhere as the district government failed to bring the prices down. 

Sale of substandard items continued across the city and weekly makeshift markets. The management staff of these bazaars was least bother to check the quality and control overcharging there. Neither the Punjab Food Authority nor the management staff of these bazaars took notice what was happening in these bazaars. 

Agriculture Marketing Fair Price shops established by the market committee in various Ramazan Bazaars ensured quality of goods and lower rates. But if market committee officials ensure quality of stuff, they are unable to enforce rate lists issued in the bazaars due to limited human resources which are busy at the Agriculture Marketing Fair Price Shops. The market committee officials issue price cards to the vendors and revise the rates as well after midday. But rest of the management staff of these bazaars does not bother to recheck the vendors about the prices they are charging from customers.

Many of the vendors hide the price cards and overcharge the customers. Only aware customers ask for the price cards and to them the vendors sell the items at official rates. 

The government has failed to control price hike and overcharging in open markets where buyers are at the mercy of vendors. 

There is a need to formulate a comprehensive price regulation mechanism. 

The price of potatoes was reduced by Rs 4 per kg, soft skin fixed at Rs 28 to 31 per kg, sugar free fixed at Rs 22 to 24 per kg, while and store increased by Rs 2 per kg, fixed at Rs 17 to 19 per kg, sold at Rs 31 per kg.

Onion price was increased by Re one per kg, fixed at Rs 19 to 22 per kg, mixed sold at Rs 22 per kg.

The price of tomato was enhanced by Rs 4 per kg, fixed at Rs 37 to 40 per kg, mixed sold at Rs 40 per kg.

Garlic local was stable at Rs 130 to 140 per kg, garlic Quetta by Rs 2 per kg, fixed at Rs 150 to 160 per kg, while both were sold at Rs 160 per kg.

Ginger Chinese was reduced by Rs 4 per kg, fixed at Rs 73 to 79 per kg, while sold at Rs 80 to 100 per kg.

The price of brinjal was gained by Rs 10 per kg, fixed at Rs 31 to 35 per kg.

Cucumber local was unchanged at Rs 26 to 30 per kg, Farm gained by Rs 5 per kg, fixed at Rs 23 to 25 per kg, both sold at Rs 30 to 40 per kg.

Bitter gourd gained by Rs 4 per kg, fixed at Rs 22 to 24 per kg, sold at Rs 25 per kg.

Spinach price was gained by Rs 9 per kg, fixed at Rs 36 to 39 per kg, rotten was sold at Rs 50 per kg in makeshift markets.

Lemon local A-grade was increased by Rs 10 per kg, fixed at Rs 100 to 108 per kg, and B-grade fixed at Rs 67 to 72 per kg, while mixed sold at Rs 108 per kg, A-grade was sold at Rs 120 to 140 per kg.

Zucchini long was declined by Rs 2 per kg, fixed at Rs26 to 30 per kg, not sold there, Zucchini local white and black was gained by Rs 15 per kg, fixed Rs 56 to 60 per kg.

The price of pumpkin increased by Rs 7 per kg, fixed at Rs 24 to 27 per kg sold at Rs 30 to 50 per kg.

Luffa price was enhanced by Rs 10 per kg, fixed at Rs 26 to 30 per kg, lower quality was sold at Rs 30 per kg.

Ladyfinger was gained by Rs 12 per kg, fixed at Rs 34 to 37 per kg, sold at Rs 40 per kg.

Arum was increased by Rs 4 per kg, fixed at Rs 56 to 60 per kg.

Green chilli local was stable at Rs 37 to 40 per kg, sold at Rs 60 per kg.

Capsicum was also gained by Rs 5 per kg, fixed at Rs 51 to 55 per kg, sold at Rs 60 per kg.

Coriander was fixed at Rs 130 per kg, sold at Rs 400 per kg.

The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs 72 to 255 per kg, sold at Rs 80 to 300 per kg.

The price of banana A category was fixed at Rs 87 to 95 per dozen, B category at Rs 60 to 65 per dozen, sold at Rs 100 per dozen, A-category was fixed at Rs 140 per dozen.

The price of melon local was fixed at Rs 46 to 50 per kg, sold at Rs 40 to 60 per kg.

Plump price fixed at Rs 174 per kg, B-category was sold at Rs 170 per kg, while A-category was at Rs 200 to 220 per kg.

Peach A-category was fixed at Rs 150 to 160 per kg, B-category at Rs 92 to 100 per kg, and mixed sold at Rs 150 to 160 per kg.

The price of different variety of mangoes was fixed at Rs 37 to 120 per kg while sold at Rs 80 to 120 per kg.

Apricot white was fixed Rs 130 to 140 per kg, mixed sold at Rs 140 per kg.

Price of different variety of dates was fixed at Rs 106 to 155 per kg, sold at Rs 160 to 300 per kg.

Litchi was gained by Rs 30 per kg, fixed at Rs 204 per kg, while mix was sold at Rs 200 to 220 per kg.  Cherry box price was fixed at Rs 192 to 205 per box, sold at Rs 300 to 350 per box.