Rawalpindi The prices of vegetables have increased by 100 to 200% in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad because of devastating floods in different parts of the country, including central Punjab. The consumers are not only facing skyrocketing prices but also facing shortage of vegetables. Even weekly bazaars have failed to address the issue as capsicum ‘shimla mirch’ is being sold at the rate Rs300 per kilogram against Rs80, ‘arvi’ at Rs80 against Rs50, tomato at Rs80 against Rs30, cucumber at Rs120 against Rs40, onion at Rs50 against Rs25 and ‘dhanya’ is not available in markets. Similarly, bitter gourd, ladyfinger, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage and fenugreek are available in the range of Rs80 to Rs300 per kilogram in vegetable markets and weekly bazaars. Rawalpindi-Islamabad Vegetable Wholesaler Association Chairman Muhammad Safdar Bhatti told ‘The News’ that the residents are facing skyrocketing prices because of floods in the country. Most vegetables are supplied from the central Punjab where there are severe floods, he claimed. “The government has completely failed to control flooding in the country, therefore, public is facing problems,” he said. On the other hand, people have failed to maintain the balance in family budget due to skyrocketing prices of vegetables. The good quality vegetables are almost missing in markets, while low quality ones are being sold at exorbitant rates. The market sources disclosed that the profiteers and hoarders are taking full advantage of this situation and looting consumers at their will, while local management is in deep slumber. Yasar Hussain Butt, a vegetable-seller, said that due to the prevailing hike in prices, the sale of vegetables has decreased sharply, as people are unable to buy them. He said many people visited the weekly bazaars but do not buy vegetables due to their high prices. The rise in the prices of vegetables has affected even the elite class, turning its budget upside down, said Nasreen Kausar, resident of a posh locality. Vendors said that the supply of vegetables at present is short as crops are not so good due to floods throughout the country. The wholesalers do not seem to be in any hurry to release their stocks, maybe their holding capacity has increased which has led to the rise in prices, they added. But consumers are of the view that the middlemen are reaping the benefits of the increase in prices. The prices of almost all vegetables have surged by around 100 to 200% in the last one week after floods inundated standing crops of perishable items in many parts of Punjab. The retailers say that prices may further go up in coming days. Prices of tomato, onion and other vegetables have gone double during last few days. They also said that floods in the country including Punjab, which swept roads, bridges and destroyed crops, had hit supply of vegetables. Apart from this, profiteers and hoarders have also become active to gain maximum benefit. Onion price also registered sharp increase in retail market of the city and the retailers blamed short supply of the commodity from upcountry and its hoarding for the sharp increase in its price. While best quality ginger is being sold at Rs200 per kilogram against the official price of Rs120 per kilogram in the retail market. Additional District Collector General (ADCG) Imran Ahmed Qureshi said “We are monitoring markets continuously.” He admitted that vegetable prices are sharply increasing because of floods in the country but they would not spare profiteers and hoarders.
