Overcharging& price-hike issues remain unresolved

LAHORE:Ramazan is approaching to its end but the issue of sale of lower quality items at A-grade price, overcharging and high prices of essential perishable items remains unresolved.

Even the lower grade items are being sold at Agriculture Fair Price Stalls while A-category items are only for displays. Those who visit these stalls have not taken notice of this act of the staff of Agriculture Fair Price Stalls who are openly making the government officials fools.

Poultry association has also befooled the provincial government by promising of lowering down the rates of chicken meat in the holy month. However, instead of bringing down the rates of chicken meat, they have increased the prices.

A week ago, provincial ministerial committee expressed concern over high prices of edibles, but the government could not arrest those involved in price hike and overcharging.

Overcharging continues everywhere for every item from meat, grains, vegetables, fruits and other items. Meat is not sold at official rates anywhere in the city.

This week price of chicken was reduced by only one rupee per kg, fixed at Rs405-421 per kg, sold at Rs450-480 per kg, and chicken meat gained by Rs22 per kg, fixed Rs634 per kg, and sold Rs680-1100 per kg.

The price of potato soft skin further increased by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs50-55 per kg, sold at Rs80 per kg, B-grade fixed at Rs44-48 per kg, and C-grade at Rs38-42 per kilogram, mixed sold at Rs60-70 per kg.

The price of onion A-grade unchanged at Rs173-180 per kg, sold at Rs220-240 per kg, B-grade gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs160-165 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg, and C-grade by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs145-150 per kg, sold at sold at Rs170-180 per kg. The price of tomato A-grade reduced by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs90-95 per kg, sold at Rs180-200 per kg, B-grade fixed at Rs80-85 per kg, and C-grade at Rs70-75 per kg, mixed sold at Rs130-150 per kg.

The price of garlic local was reduced by Rs45 per kg, fixed at Rs230-245 per kg, sold at Rs350 per kg, and Garlic China gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs585-605 per kg, sold at Rs800 per kg, Garlic Harnai increased by Rs50 per kg, was fixed at Rs380-395 per kg, sold at Rs500 per kg.

The price of both Ginger Thai gained by Rs85 per kg, fixed at Rs585-605 per kg, sold at Rs800 per kg, and Chinese by Rs90 per kg, fixed at Rs590-605 per kg, sold at Rs800 per kg. Cucumber Farm further reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs30-37 per kg, sold at Rs60-70 per kg.

Brinjal price was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed Rs62-65 per kg, sold at Rs100-120 per kg. The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs58-325 per kg, sold at Rs150-500 per kg.

The price of Banana A-category gained by Rs5 per dozen, fixed at Rs190-195 per dozen, sold at Rs240-280 per dozen, and B-category at Rs135-140 per dozen, sold at Rs180-200 per dozen, and C-category fixed at Rs80-85 per dozen, sold at Rs130-150 per dozen. Dates Irani reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs470-485 per kg, sold at Rs800 to 1400 per kg. Papaya unchanged at Rs210-220 per kg, sold at Rs200-250 per kg.

Pomegranate danaydar unchanged at Rs420-440 per kg, sold at Rs600 per kg, Pomegranate khandahri fixed at Rs325-340 per kg, sold at Rs600-700 per kg, Pomegranate bedana fixed at Rs700-720 per kg, sold at Rs1200-1400 per kg. Guava was reduced by Rs45 per kg, fixed at Rs130-185 per kg, sold at Rs150-220 per kg. Musami was fixed at Rs90-125 per dozen, sold at Rs250-300 per dozen.

Grapefruit was fixed at Rs18-20 per piece, sold at Rs25-30 per piece. Sweet potato was unchanged at Rs95-100 per kg, sold at Rs150 per kg. Kinow was fixed at Rs180-330 per dozen, sold at Rs400-600 per dozen.