Parents say they are students and help them on weekend
LAHORE
Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin ordered the administration of Shadman weekly makeshift market to detain all the underage children, who were helping their elders, on account of child labour.
During his visit this week, someone whispered in his ear and the minister who had visited the makeshift markets many times, issued instructions to detain all the children working there. Nobody listened to their parents and elders despite their hue and cry as they said it was day-off from school and these helping hands matter for their weekly income.
Aslam, one of the oldest vendors in the Shadman weekly makeshift market, said his kids were getting training from him for work on weekend besides attending schools. He said the administration had detained them which created fear among the kids along with panic in the bazaar.
Asghar, whose son was also detained on account of forced child labour, said that if he left the son home there were more chances that he would go astray and could become non-productive member of society. To make him a productive person, instead of leaving him home, I bring him with me every week and minister always visited my stalls but never asked not to bring him on account of child labour, he said.
Munir’s son was detained when he came to supply food to his father on Sunday. His father said he did not take work from him ever in the makeshift market. The administration gave a deaf ear to my words and detained him as well.
Interestingly, food minister who seems to visit bazaar to make breaking news for electronic media did not bother to ask the real issue of the bazaar and visitors.
As issue of non-availability of majority of seasonal vegetables due to wrong rates fixation prevailed for the last couple of weeks. But the minister did not ask about this issue at all.
This week again number of vegetables were missing in the makeshift markets on account of wrong fixation of the prices besides overcharging on available stuff.
The price of potato soft skin was reduced by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs16 to 18 per kg mix was sold at Rs18 per kg. Onion price was also went down by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs18 to 20 per kg. The price of tomato was reduced to Rs25 to 28 per kg with a reduction of Rs14 per kg. Garlic local was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs280 to 285 per kg, garlic China stable at Rs280 to 285 per kg, both sold at Rs300 per kg.
Ginger Chinese was unchanged at Rs117 to 120 per kg, and Thai at Rs88 to 90 per kg, while Thai was sold at Rs120 per kg. The price of brinjal was increased by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs11 to 12 per kg sold at Rs20 per kg. Cucumber was fixed at Rs28 to 30 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg. Bitter gourd was gained by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs73 to 75 per kg, sold at Rs80 per kg. Spinach price was stable at Rs14 to 15 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Lemon Chinese was fixed at Rs53 to 55 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg.
Zucchini Farm was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs24 to 25 per kg, Zucchini long was fixed at Rs19 to 20 per kg. The price of pumpkin fixed at Rs9 to 10 per kg, not sold there. Green chilli local fixed at Rs58 to 60 per kg, sold at Rs80 per kg. Capsicum was stable at Rs68 to 70 per kg, sold at Rs80 per kg. Carrot local was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs24 to 25 per kg. Radish was fixed at Rs9 to 10 per kg, sold at Rs15 per kg. Methi was increased by Rs12 per kg, fixed at Rs19 to 20 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Turnip was gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs15 per kg, sold at Rs20 per kg. Green beans at Rs50 per kg, sold at Rs120 per kg. Pea was reduced by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs43 to 45 per kg.
Cabbage was gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs33 to 35 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg, and cauliflower price was Rs4 to 5 per kg not sold on wrong price fixation issue while outside the markets sold at Rs40 per kg.
The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs38 to 120 per kg, sold at Rs60 to 120 per kg. The price of banana was fixed at Rs38 to 55 per dozen, sold at Rs60 per dozen. Guava price was stable at Rs48 to 50 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. Peer Chinese was fixed at Rs145 to 150 per kg. Sweet potato was fixed at Rs24 to 25 per kg, lower quality sold at Rs30 per kg.
