LAHORE :Instead of providing relief to the public the government has come forward with a novelty to forcefully decide the vendors to what they will sell in the weekly makeshift markets and forget their old decade business which they were doing for many years.
The implementation of the out-of-box solution was started this Sunday in Shadman weekly makeshift market – the only properly working Sunday bazaar – by the AC Model Town Zeeshan Ranjha around midday stopping the sale of potato and onion by the vendors who are permanently selling these items during all odds. Interestingly, the district government in the past always pushed these sellers to bring onions and potatoes to the makeshift markets in shortage times and ensure the sale from dawn to dusk. However, with new orders, these sellers who used to sell only potato and onions, and tomatoes for the last many years are now forced to sell at least five vegetables at their stalls, or otherwise the government will cancel the stalls.
AC Model Town Zeeshan Ranjha who was unable to enforce the pricing of vegetables and fruits according to grading insisted that he was doing right despite the public arguments that it was a wrong decision by the administration. The shoppers said that the administration took the decision without knowing the ground realities. Interestingly, hardly any complaints of these sellers were registered with the administration of Shadman weekly makeshift markets, while the staff there was also surprised with the new decision.
A mess was created more than an hour in the Shadman makeshift market as a result of suspension of sale of onion and potatoes by these sellers on the instructions of the AC Model Town. Rather the sellers argued the decision regular buyers were questioning the AC and demanding him revert such decisions which increased the public issues. The shoppers said that if the government was unable to facilitate the public then it should not increase the problems. Unfortunately, this unwise decision which was made in some meeting by the bureaucracy could be implemented only on the sellers but the government could not control and implement any thing forcefully on sellers of the wholesale markets.
In vegetables and fruits markets the wholesalers remained stick to their specialised items trade irrespective of odds. If some wholesaler is doing trade of potatoes, onion or any other items then his second or third generations are dealing in those limited items as the expertise and supply chain was established over the years. However, according to the new orders if some vendor is dealing in limited items like onion and potato or only selling tomato then he could not do business until it will increase the number of vegetables to minimum five.
Now question arises, will the government also implement the same rules for the meat sellers, as those who sell beef are selling only it for decades, so is the case with mutton and chicken meat sellers. Will government ask meat sellers to sell all types of meat at their shops or otherwise no business will be allowed? Thus it means that in next step the government will also force the farmers to grow according to the list provided by it. A big No. The role of the government is a regulator and facilitators which resulted in bringing stability and equilibrium in production of the perishable and prices. But, the policies of fixing the terms of doing business create distortions in the market which resulted in price instability. This week again increasing trend in the prices of essential vegetables and fruits continued along with overcharging and sale of B and C grade items at A-grade prices in these makeshift and as well as open markets in absence of any price implementation mechanism.
The price of potato soft skin new was reduced by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs36 to 38 per kg, mixed sold at Rs38 per kg, and potato stored at Rs21 to 22 per kg. The price on onion was also reduced by Rs6 per kg fixed at Rs58 to 60 per kg, mixed sold at Rs60 per kg. The price of tomato was also declined by Rs25 per kg, fixed at Rs105 to 110 per kg, mixed sold at Rs110 per kg.
Garlic local was fixed at Rs183 to 203 per kg, sold at Rs240 per kg, garlic Chinese at Rs220 to 230 per kg, sold at Rs280 per kg. Ginger Chinese was unchanged at Rs272 to 280 per kg, sold at Rs320 per kg. Brinjal was gained by Rs6 per kg, fixed at Rs43 to 45 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg.
Cucumber farm was increased by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs55 to 58 per kg, sold at Rs60 to 80 per kg. Bitter gourd was increased by Rs9 per kg, fixed at Rs72 to 75 per kg, sold at Rs80 per kg. Spinach local was unchanged at Rs28 to 30 per kg, and spinach farm was fixed at Rs17 to 19 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Zucchini long was gained by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs42 to 45 per kg, not sold due to wrong pricing issue.
The price of lemon Chinese was reduced by Rs3 per kg. fixed at Rs45 to 47 per kg, sold at Rs80 per kg. Cauliflower was gained by Rs6 per kg, fixed at Rs55 to 58 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg, and cabbage was reduced by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs38 to 40 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg. Pumpkin was gained by Rs7 per kg, fixed at Rs54 to 57 per kg, not sold there due to wring pricing issue and pumpkin long was sold at Rs100 per kg. Lady finger was increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs94 to 98 per kg, not sold.
Arum was gained by Rs7 per kg, fixed at Rs77 to 80 per kg, not sold. Green chilli price was fixed at Rs110 to 115 per kg, sold at Rs140 per kg. Capsicum was reduced by Rs19 per kg, fixed at Rs132 to 138 per kg, sold at Rs160 per kg.
The price of pea was gained by Rs22 per kg fixed at Rs104 to 110 per kg, lower quality was sold at Rs110 per kg. Carrot local was unchanged at Rs40 to 42 per kg, sold at Rs45 per kg. Coriander was fixed at Rs50 to 60 per kg, sold at Rs120 per kg. Beans were fixed at Rs55 to 58 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg. Methi was gained by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs28 to 30 per kg, not sold due to wrong pricing issue. Turnip was fixed at Rs21 to 23 per kg, sold at Rs25 per kg. Mustard leaves were fixed at Rs22 to 24 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Mongray was fixed at Rs72 to 75 per kg, sold at Rs100 to 200 per kg. Radish was increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs14 to 15 per kg, sold at Rs20 per kg. The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs85 to 148 per kg, B-grade sold at Rs90 to 140 per kg and A-grade was sold at Rs180 per kg.
The price of banana A-category was fixed at Rs67 to 70 per dozen and B-category was fixed at Rs45 to 47 per dozen, sold at Rs65 per dozen, while A-category was not available. Papaya was fixed at Rs106 to 112 per kg, lower quality sold at Rs110 per kg. Pomegranate Bedana was fixed at Rs285 to 292 per kg, not sold, Pomegranate Khandari was sold at Rs180 to 200 per kg.
Grapes Irani was fixed at Rs160 to 165 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg. Guava was fixed at Rs65 to 68 per kg, sold at Rs65 to 80 per kg. Sweet potato was fixed at Rs46 to 49 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. Waternut was fixed at Rs67 to 70 per kg, not sold. Grape fruit was fixed at Rs17 to 18 per piece, not sold due to pricing issue. Musami was fixed Rs85 to 100 dozen, lower grade sold at Rs80 to 100 per dozen and A-grade sold at Rs120 per dozen. Citrus fruit was fixed at Rs46 to 70 per dozen, lower quality was sold at Rs70 per kg.