Overcharging persists in makeshift markets

LAHORE: Overcharging persisted in the weekly makeshift markets of the city in the presence of the all management, including market committee, town management and even during the visit of the price control committee chairman.

The price control committee chairman made a ‘surprise visit’ to Shadman makeshift market this week where he suspended two stalls and issued warnings to six stall holders. However, the action failed to control the overcharging which continued during his visit and after as well.

The sellers said the prices of summer season vegetables were very high while the wrong rates were issued in the market committee list. Thus they justified the overcharging. On the price control committee chairman's visit, they said it was a routine photo session visit of the chairman and such visits will not bring any change until the nexus of mafia is broken in Badami Bagh wholesale markets where the rates of all the perishables are decided and fixed by market committee of Lahore with the connivance of the mafia.

Radish pods (mongray), bitter gourd, turnip, radish, mustard leaves, turnip, cauliflower, Fenugreek (methi), besides majority of seasonal fruits were not sold in the makeshift on account of wrong pricing issue. Similarly, overcharging was observed on brinjal, capsicum, cabbage, green chilli, garlic, ginger, spinach, zucchini and pumpkin.

This week price of potato was reduced by Re one per kg, fixed at Rs12 to 13 per kg for makeshift markets and Rs13 to 14 per kg for open markets. In open markets, it was sold at Rs20 per kg.

The price of onion was further reduced by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs20 to 22 per kg, mixed grade was sold at Rs22 per kg. The price of tomato was stable at Rs22 to 24 per kg, sold at Rs25 per kg.

Garlic China was reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs136 to 140 per kg, and garlic local by Rs14 per kg, fixed at Rs88 to 90 per kg, both were sold at Rs100 to 140 per kg. Ginger Chinese was increased by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs129 to 133 per kg, and Thai at Rs92 to 95 per kg, and it was sold at Rs140 per kg. The price of brinjal was unchanged at Rs38 to 40 per kg and sold at Rs50 per kg. Cucumber local was stable at Rs19 to 20 per kg. Bitter gourd was increased by Rs25 per kg, fixed at Rs112 to 115 per kg, sold at Rs120 to 140 per kg. Spinach was reduced by Rs6 per kg, fixed at Rs7 to 8 per kg, sold at Rs15 to 20 per kg.

Lemon Chinese was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs63 to 65 per kg, sold at Rs80 per kg, lemon local at Rs131 to 135 per kg. Zucchini farm was reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs9 to

10 per kg, zucchini long by Rs5 per kg fixed at Rs9 to 10 per kg both were not available to majority of sellers while where available sold at Rs30 per kg.

Pumpkin was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs38 to 40 per kg, sold at Rs40 to 60 per kg. Green chilli was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs78 to 80 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg. Capsicum was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs38 to 40 per kg but sold at Rs50 per kg.

Coriander was increased by Rs7 per kg, fixed at Rs35 per kg, sold at Rs120 per kg. Beans were sold at Rs200 per kg while no price was issued by the market committee to it. Carrot price was gained by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs24 per kg, sold at Rs25 per kg. Fenugreek (Methi) was increased by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs14 to 15 per kg, not sold on wrong pricing. Turnip was fixed at Rs7 to 8 per kg, not sold on wrong pricing issue. Radish was fixed at Rs9 to 10 kg, not sold on wrong pricing while outside sold at Rs30 per kg.

Cauliflower was unchanged at Rs9 to 10 per kg, not available there on wrong pricing, and cabbage fixed at Rs14 to 15 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Pea was increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs23 to 25 per kg.Green gram was fixed at Rs15 per kg, sold at Rs240 per kg. Ladyfinger was fixed at Rs136 to 140 per kg. Sweet pumpkin was fixed at Rs15 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg.

Different variety of apples was fixed at Rs68 to 130 per kg, sold at Rs60 to 160 per kg. Banana A-quality was fixed at Rs63 to 65 per dozen, and B-quality at Rs43 to 45 per dozen B-grade was sold at Rs65 per dozen. Guava was reduced by Rs13 per kg, fixed at Rs48 to 50 per kg, sold at Rs60 to 70 per kg. Musami was fixed at Rs121 to 125 per dozen, B-grade sold at Rs120 per dozen, A-grade was sold at Rs160 per dozen. Grape fruit was fixed at Rs14 to 15 per piece, B-quality was sold at Rs15 per piece.

Papaya was fixed at Rs92 to 95 per kg, sold at Rs100 to 120 per kg.

Different variety of citrus fruits were fixed at Rs78 to 130 per dozen, sold at Rs80 to 150 per dozen. Strawberry A-grade was fixed at Rs107 to 110 per kg, and B-grade at Rs68 to 70 per kg, mixed was sold at Rs120 per kg. Melon A-grade was fixed at Rs58 to 60 per kg, B-grade at Rs38 to 40 per kg, and sold at Rs60 per kg in makeshift markets and Rs50 to 60 per kg in open markets.