Most vegetables unavailable

LAHORE: Majority of seasonal vegetables were not available on Sunday at weekly makeshift markets due to price fixation issue between the vendors and market committee officials.

Vendors refused to get price cards of vegetables from market committee officials including, biter gourd, Luffa, cucumber, ladyfinger, sweet pumpkin, spinach, and coriander over wrong pricing issue. However, they sold these vegetables more than double rates of the official price. The market committee officials did not stop them from overcharging.

They were of the view if they would stop them from overcharging, there could be shortage of vegetables in the makeshift market.  The vendors said the prices of all seasonal vegetables are high at wholesale market due to humid weather. Humid weather has affected supply and production which caused an increase in the price of vegetables, they said, adding price list is a regular issue, but the government authorities did not want to solve it.

Potato new was stable at Rs 38 to 40 per kg, sugar free fixed at Rs 25 to 27 per kg, and stored at Rs 18 to 20 per kg and stored sold at Rs 40 per kg as the market committee officials themselves issued this rate to stored variety.

Onion price was further gained by Rs 4 per g, fixed at Rs 34 to 36 per kg, rainwater affected was sold at Rs 36 per kg. The price of tomato was reduced by Rs 10 per kg, fixed at Rs 40 to 42 per kg, while rotten was sold at Rs 42 per kg, and good quality tomato was sold outside the makeshift bazaar at Rs 60 per kg.

Garlic China was stable at Rs 126 to 130 per kg, and garlic local fixed at Rs 112 to 115 per kg, while all variety was sold at Rs 140 per kg.