Vendors given free hand to fleece consumers

LAHORE

Massive overcharging continued in the weekly makeshift markets of the city as the government kept closed its eyes to the basic public issues, giving free hand to the vendors to fleece the consumers.

The quality of vegetables and fruits in these markets was also substandard, except Shadman bazaar where relatively better quality items were sold. Only few A-grade quality items were sold there too while rest of the perishable items were B-grade even in the presence of the government officials who least bothered to check the quality and overcharging by the vendors.

The staff in different bazaars said they did not have any mechanism to check the overcharging except the consumer come to their stall and registered a complaint. Furthermore, the complaint has to identify the vendor who overcharged too. However, whenever any consumer registered the complaint of overcharging, the vendors refused to accept that he was overcharging. Thus no action was taken against him as the vendors were overcharging with the connivance of the staff.

The price of potato soft skin in model bazaar was increased by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs37 to 41 per kg, sugar-free by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs28 to 32 per kg, and stored by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs20 to 23 per kg, while stored sold at Rs41 per kg. Onion price was stable at Rs18 to 22 per kg, lower quality mixed was sold at Rs22 per kg. The price of tomato was reduced by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs35 to 40 per kg. Garlic local was unchanged at Rs235 to 250 per kg, garlic China fixed at Rs255 to 270 per kg, both sold at Rs300 per kg. Ginger Chinese was also stable at Rs85 to 90 per kg, sold at Rs100 to 120 per kg. The price of brinjal was gained by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs45 to 50 per kg, rotten was sold at Rs50 per kg.

Cucumber was fixed at Rs30 to 35 per kg, sold at Rs35 to 60 per kg.

Bitter gourd gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs70 to 80 per kg, lower quality was sold at Rs80 per kg, good quality at Rs100 per kg. Spinach price was stable at Rs20 to 25 per kg, sold up to Rs30 per kg. Lemon Chinese was fixed at Rs50 to 60 per kg, B-grade Chinese was sold at Rs60 per kg. Zucchini local was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs40 to 45 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg.

The price of pumpkin was gained by Rs12 per kg, fixed at Rs35 to 40 per kg, sold at Rs40 to 60 per kg. Luffa price was reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs60 to 65 per kg, not sold in makeshift markets.

Ladyfinger was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs55 to 60 kg, not sold there. Arum was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs55 to 60 per kg, also missing there. Green chilli local gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs85 to 95 per kg sold at Rs100 to 120 per kg. Capsicum was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs60 to 65 per kg, not sold there while just outside sold at Rs120 per kg.

Coriander was gained by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs130 per kg, sold at Rs400 per kg. Carrot local was stable at Rs35 to 45 per kg, Chinese at Rs55 to 60 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg. Radish was fixed at Rs8 to 10 per kg, not sold there. Methi was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs45 to 50 per kg, not sold there, just outside sold at Rs120 per kg.

Turnip was increased by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs50 per kg, lower quality was sold at Rs60 per kg, green beans at Rs18 to 60 per kg, sold at Rs160 per kg. Pea was fixed at Rs110 to 120 per kg, not available in makeshift markets.

Cabbage was fixed at Rs25 to 30 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg, and cauliflower price was Rs50 to 55 per kg, sold at Rs60 to 80 per kg. The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs30 to 110 per kg, sold at Rs60 to 120 per kg. The price of banana was fixed at Rs40 to 50 per dozen, sold at Rs40 to 60 per dozen. Guava price was fixed at Rs45 to 5 per kg, sold at Rs50 to 70 per kg. Grapes sundarkhani was fixed at Rs160 to 170 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg, grapes black was at Rs140 to 150 per kg, not sold there, grapes tofi was fixed at Rs100 to 130 per kg, sold at Rs150 to 160 per kg. Peer was fixed at Rs70 to 146 per kg, not available in the markets. Sweet potato was fixed at Rs22 to 25 per kg, sold at Rs30 to 50 per kg.

Pomegranate local was fixed at Rs100 to 110 per kg, Kandahari at Rs100 to 140 per kg, mixed sold at Rs120 to 150 per kg. Papaya was fixed at Rs75 to 80 per kg, not sold there while in market sold at Rs150 per kg. Persimmon was fixed at Rs50 to 60 per kg. Grape fruit was fixed at Rs15 to 18 per piece, lower quality was sold there at Rs18 to 20 per piece. Waternut was fixed at Rs35 to 38 per kg, sold at Rs40 to 50 per kg. Melon was fixed at Rs55 to 65 per kg.