No letup in overcharging in Sunday bazaars

Declining trend in the prices of seasonal vegetables continued in official price list only while no impact is coming on consumer price due to massive overcharging and selling of the perishable.

Majority of seasonal vegetables, including mehti, green chilli, brinjal, capsicum, carrot, radish, mongray, cabbage, cauliflower and some off-season, including ladyfinger, luffa, pumpkin and others were not sold in the makeshift markets on account of wrong price fixation issue. The vendors claimed that the buying price of these items was higher than the official rates issued by the market committee Lahore so they did not bring the vegetables for sale.

Similarly, absence of price control magistrate has allowed the vendors to overcharge the buyers in the makeshift markets. The market committee officials just issued price cards to the vendors and gave free hands to sell items at their will price.

Potato new price cut down by Rs13 per kg with the arrival of new crop, fixed at Rs25 to 27 per kg from Rs38 to 40 per kg, and stored at Rs16 to 18 per kg, new mix and was sold at Rs27 per kg. The price of onion was gained by Rs7 per kg, fixed at Rs54 to 57 per kg, mixed grade was sold at Rs57 per kg, A-grade at Rs70 per kg. The price of tomato was further reduced by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs57 to 60 per kg.

Garlic China was stable at Rs121 to 125 per kg, and garlic local reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs107 to 110 per kg, while all variety was sold at Rs120 to 130 per kg. Ginger Chinese was stable at Rs155 to 160 per kg, and Thai at Rs97 to 100 per kg, and it was sold at Rs160 per kg. The price of brinjal was unchanged at Rs33 to 35 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg. Cucumber local was stable at Rs28 to 30 per kg, not sold on wrong pricing issue.

Bitter gourd was reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs63 to 65 per kg, not sold there. Spinach was reduced by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs23 to 25 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg as market committee officials issued the rates of spinach local of Rs40 per kilogram to vendors instead of official price list rate of Rs25 per kg while no rate were issued for local variety in price list. Lemon Chinese was fixed at Rs48 to 50 per kg, sold at Rs60 to 80 per kg.

Pumpkin was stable at Rs53 to 55 per kg, sold at Rs60 to 80 per kg. Green chilli was unchanged at Rs88 to 90 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg. Capsicum was reduced by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs97 to 100 per kg. Coriander was fixed at Rs130 per kg, sold at Rs300 per kg. Beans rates were not issued but sold at Rs200 per kg. Carrot price was gained by Rs13 per kg, fixed at Rs36 to 38 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg. Methi was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs43 to 45 per kg, not sold in makeshift markets on wrong pricing issue, outside sold at Rs80 per kg. Turnip was fixed at Rs28 to 30 per kg.

Radish was reduced by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs14 to 15 kg, sold at Rs20 per kg. Mongray was unchanged at Rs88 to 90 per kg, not sold on account of wrong price fixation. Cauliflower was gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs48 to 50 per kg, and cabbage fixed at Rs33 to 35 per kg, both not sold on wrong pricing issue. Pea was reduced by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs73 to 75 per kg.

Different variety of apples was fixed at Rs48 to 120 per kg, sold at Rs60 to 140 per kg. Banana A-quality was fixed at Rs48 to 50 per dozen, and B-quality at Rs33 to 35 per dozen mix grade was sold at Rs50 per dozen. Guava was fixed at Rs43 to 45 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. Orange was gained by Rs10 per dozen fixed at Rs97 to 100 per dozen, B-grade was sold at Rs100 per dozen, A-grade was sold at Rs150 per dozen. Grape fruit was fixed at Rs17 to 18 per piece, B-quality was sold at Rs15 to 18 per piece, A-grade was sold at Rs25 per piece.

Water nut was fixed at Rs28 to 30 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg. Sweet potato was fixed at Rs38 to 40 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg. Papaya was gained by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs92 to 95 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg.