Price control dept yet to deliver

LAHORE: Increasing prices of perishable items alongside the overcharging raise the serious questions on the government abilities to provide the relief to the people from food inflation.

The government has created new departments to control the overcharging but these departments also failed to create any impact rather become a burden to provincial exchequer.This week again not a single vegetable was being sold lower than Rs200 per kilogram range exposing the worst situation of the perishable prices in the province. The open violations of the rate lists are making mockery of the government writ and also challenging the creation of a new department of the price control which has so far not delivered at any level.

This week, the rate of live chicken was reduced by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs374-388 per kg, while the seller charged Rs460-480 per kg for live chicken, chicken meat fixed at Rs562 per kilogram, while sold at Rs570-640 per kg and chicken boneless at Rs1,100-1,200 per kg.

The price of potato soft skin A-grade unchanged at Rs80-85 per kg, sold at Rs140-150 per kg, B-grade at Rs65-70 per kg and C-grade at Rs55-60 per kg, mixed sold at Rs120-130 per kg.The price of potato sugar-free A-grade fixed at Rs55-60, B-grade 45-50 and C-grade at Rs35-40 per kg, mixed sold at Rs100-120 per kg.

The price of onion A-grade increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs50-55 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg, B-grade at Rs35-40 per kg, and C-grade at Rs26-30 per kg, mixed sold at Rs60-70 per kg.

The price of tomato A-grade was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs82-90 per kg, sold at Rs150-160 per kg, B-grade fixed at Rs75-80 per kg, and C-grade at Rs65-70 per kg, mixed sold at Rs120-130 per kg. The price of garlic local new unchanged at Rs200-210 per kg, sold at Rs280-300 per kg, Garlic Harani gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs250-260 per kg, sold at Rs400 per kg.

The price of Ginger Thai was gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs434-460 per kg, Ginger China reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at 400-420 per kg, both sold at Rs600-700 per kg.Cucumber Farm was declined by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs76-80 per kg, farm sold at Rs100-120 per kg, cucumber local was sold at Rs200 per kg.

The lemon local gained by Rs45 per kg, fixed at Rs290-305 per kg, sold at Rs350-400 per kg, lemon seedless by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs172-180 per kg, sold at Rs250-300 per kg. Lady finger price cut by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs162-170 per kg, sold at Rs200-240 per kg. Green chili price further reduced by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs105-110 per kg, sold at Rs160-200 per kg.

Carrot Chinese price increased by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs133-140 per kg, sold at Rs220-250 per kg. Pea price gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs229-240 per kg, sold at Rs500 per kg. Beetroot was sold at Rs400 per kg. Coriander was sold at Rs80 per bundle.

This week price of only one variety of apples was fixed which was gained by Rs40 per kg, fixed at Rs145-265 per kg, sold at Rs200-350 per kg.

The price of Banana A-category reduced by Rs5 per dozen, fixed at Rs188-210 per dozen, sold at Rs250-300 per dozen, and B-category fixed at Rs134-150 dozen, sold at Rs200-230 per dozen, C-grade was fixed at Rs90-100 per dozen, sold at Rs150-180 per dozen.

Guava was fixed at Rs158-165 per kg, sold at Rs250 per kg. Peach price reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs160-270 per kg, sold at Rs200-400 per kg.

Apricot white was declined by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs286-300 per kg, sold at Rs300-400 per kg. Price of mangoes of the different variety gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs145-270 per kg, sold at Rs200-400 per kg.

Plump price remained unchanged at Rs185-310 per kg, sold at Rs250-400 per kg. Grapes gola white price further declined by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs272-285 per kg, sold at Rs350 per kg, grapes sundarkhani gained by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs392-420 per kg, sold at Rs450-500 per kg.