Overcharging at Sunday bazaars

LAHORE: The poor management of the district government on the last Sunday before Ramazan gave a golden opportunity to the vendors to fleece the public at Sunday bazaars.

The weekly makeshift markets were not formally established due the installation of air-conditioned marquees for the Ramazan bazaars. However, the vendors were present in the surrounding areas where they sold every item at higher prices. The market committee staff also issued price cards to them.

The administrative staff at the bazaars said the delayed approval for the installation of AC marquees for Ramazan bazaars created problems for the regular weekly makeshift markets. They said that if the decision had been made only two days earlier, the marquees would have been installed before Sunday so the business could be done without any trouble. However, they said, the district government anticipating media coverage of the makeshift markets avoided its opening on Sunday to manage the matters amicably.

This week, the price of potato, soft skinned, was increased by Rs 5 per kg and fixed at Rs18 to Rs20 per kg and potato, hard skinned, at Rs13 to Rs14 per kg, whereas, the market committee had issued Rs 20 per kg price for it. The potato, soft skinned, was not available in the makeshift markets. The price of onion was further increased by Rs 4 per kg and fixed at Rs21 to Rs23 per kg, but mixed quality onion was sold at Rs23 per kg. The price of tomato was reduced by Rs 13 per kg and fixed at Rs18 to Rs20 per kg, but sold at Rs30 per kg.

Garlic, China, rate was reduced by Rs 2 per kg and fixed at Rs105 to Rs108 per kg, and garlic, local, at Rs68 to Rs70 per kg, but sold at Rs 120 per kg. Ginger, Chinese, rate was declined by Rs 20 per kg and fixed at Rs155 to Rs160 per kg, and Thai Ginger rate was cut by Rs 10 per kg and fixed at Rs126 to Rs130 per kg, and it was sold at Rs200 per kg. The price of brinjal was increased by Rs 2 per kg and fixed at Rs25 to Rs27 per kg, it sold at Rs 30 per kg. Cucumber, local, rate was reduced by Rs 12 per kg and fixed at Rs26 to Rs28 per kg. Bitter gourd rate was fixed at Rs33 to Rs35 per kg, but sold at Rs 40 to Rs50 per kg. Spinach rate was fixed at Rs11 to Rs12 per kg, but it was not available in the markets.

Lemon, local, price was reduced by Rs5 per kg and fixed at Rs170 to Rs175 per kg, but lower quality lemon was sold at Rs240 per kg. Zucchini, local, rate was increased by Rs12 per kg and fixed at Rs50 to Rs52 per kg, but sold at Rs60 per kg. Zucchini, farm, rate was fixed at Rs11 to Rs12 per kg, zucchini, long, at Rs20 per kg but both varieties were not available on account of wrong pricing issue. Pumpkin rate was reduced by Rs 5 per kg and fixed at Rs19 to Rs20 per kg, but sold at Rs 30 per kg. Green chilli price was stable at Rs53 to Rs55 per kg, but sold at Rs60 to Rs80 per kg. Capsicum rate was stable at Rs19 to Rs20 per kg, but it was not available there. Beans rate was fixed at Rs63 to Rs65 per kg, but sold at Rs 200 per kg. Carrot price was increased by Rs7 per kg and fixed at Rs42 kg, not was available on account of wrong pricing. Cauliflower rate was fixed at Rs43 to Rs45 per kg, and cabbage at Rs14 to Rs15 per kg, but was not sold there on pricing issue.