LAHORE
The prices of vegetables declined during the last one week in the official price list while no reduction was witnessed in the markets as the official rate list was not implemented.
Furthermore, the rates of lemon have come down to Rs200 per kg from Rs350 per kg with increase in supply from India. With the improvement of supply lemon was also now being sold on donkey carts by the roadside vendors.
However, now the rates of tomato are on the rise and doubled during the last fortnight. It is expected that it would further increased by the next week. The tomato suppliers said that supply was gradually on decline while the local tomato crop will also be adversely affected with the rise in mercury. Thus in such situation, they hinted that the price of tomato would further double during the next 10 days. They anticipated that retail price of tomato might reach Rs100 per kg by Eid.
The government remained focused on ensuring the air conditioned atmosphere in makeshift markets while majority of seasonal fruits were not sold there. Besides, number of vegetables was also not available in these special Ramazan and Sunday bazaars.
The government claimed that price magistrates were appointed across the province. But the appointment of these magistrates remained a claim as no action was seen anywhere in the city on the price list violation.
This week again lemon and banana were mainly two items which were not available in these special makeshift markets while in open markets both were sold much higher than the official rates. In open market, lemon was sold at Rs200 per kg while banana was sold at Rs120 to 150 per dozen.
In special Ramazan bazaars at agriculture market committee stall, it was available at Rs85 per dozen and Rs150 per kg, respectively. However, limit of lemon was fixed at half kg and banana one dozen for a buyer.
Similarly, arum, cucumber, plump, phalsa, apricot, lokat, peer China, papaya and banana were not sold in these makeshift markets.
The rate of potato soft skin was fixed at Rs31 to 33 per kg, potato sugar-free Rs28 to 30 per kg, and potato stored at Rs21 to 23 per kg, while stored variety was sold at Rs30 per kg. Onion price was stable at Rs18 to 20 per kg. The price of tomato was further increased by Rs6 per kg, fixed at Rs24 to 26 per kg. Garlic harnai was fixed at Rs141 to 146 per kg with garlic local unchanged at Rs107 to 110 per kg while sold at Rs150 per kg.
Ginger Chinese was gained by Rs6 per kg, fixed at Rs107 to 110 per kg, and Thai by Rs9 per kg, fixed 83 to 85 per kg, while Thai was sold at Rs120 per kg. The price of brinjal was reduced by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs14 to 16 per kg.
Cucumber farm was fixed at Rs11 to 12 per kg, and cucumber local at Rs24 to 25 per kg, but not sold there. Bitter gourd local was reduced by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs19 to 20 per kg. Spinach was gained by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs24 to 25 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Lemon local was reduced by Rs25 per kg, fixed at Rs145 to 152 kg sold at Rs200 per kg.
Zucchini farm was increased by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs19 to 20 per kg, Zucchini local was fixed at Rs46 to 48 per kg. Ladyfinger price was reduced by Rs12 per kg, fixed at Rs26 to 28 per kg. Pumpkin rate unchanged at Rs15 to 16 per kg, sold at Rs20 and pumpkin long sold at Rs50 per kg. Luffa was declined by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs19 to 20 per kg. Arum was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs58 to 60 per kg, not sold.
Green chilli was reduced by Rs17 per kg, fixed at Rs33 to 35 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg. Capsicum was stable at Rs38 to 40 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. Pea price was reduced by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs88 to 90 per kg, not sold there. Coriander was reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs50 per kg, sold at Rs150 per kg. The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs88 to 260 per kg, only imported from China and New Zealand was sold in makeshift markets at Rs240 to 260 per kg.
The price of banana was gained by Rs3 per dozen, fixed at Rs99 to 102 per dozen for A-category and Rs63 to 65 for B-category per dozen, but not available in makeshift markets. Papaya was fixed at Rs80 per kg, not sold. Peer Chinese was fixed at Rs130 per kg, not sold there. Dates price was fixed at Rs124 to 150 per kg, sold at Rs130 to 600 per kg. Melon local was reduced by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs38 to 40 per kg. Watermelon was fixed at Rs20 per kg.
Peach A-grade was fixed at Rs145 to 150 per kg with an increase of Rs10 per kg, and B-grade at Rs78 to 80 per kg, while B-grade was sold at Rs140 per kg. Apricot white was fixed at Rs121 to 166 per kg, while lower quality was sold at Rs160 per kg. Phalsa was fixed at Rs136 to 140 per kg not sold there.
Different varieties of mangoes were fixed at Rs83 to 130 per kg while mixed quality was sold at Rs115 to 120 per kg. Plump price was fixed at Rs190 per kg, sold at Rs240 per kg.
