LAHORE: No relief to the general public on food inflation witnessed as the prices of all essential perishable items are on the rise besides the artificial price-hike created by middlemen mafia while the government officials least bothered about it.
The prices of almost all vegetables were further increased this week too while the vendors openly overcharged the buyers claiming that the price list was fake. The vendors claimed that their purchasing price of different vegetables was much higher than the retail price issued by the market committee through price list. They challenged that even these vegetables were not sold in wholesale market at the price list issued by the market committee and district government authority.
They said that a mafia was working in the auctioning of the fruits and vegetables at wholesale level in Badami Bagh market which kept all the ‘stakeholders’ happy at the public cost. They auctioned the items at higher rates while price lists fixed lower rates for the consumers. Hence, when the vendors reached the markets to sell these items they found lower rates were issued as compared to their purchase rates. Thus, they openly overcharged as they would not take loss.
Likewise past weeks, this week again majority of seasonal vegetables were not sold in the makeshift markets, despite the rates were increased. This week again number of vegetables, including, ladyfinger, pumpkin, radish, green chili, bitter gourd, and other vegetables were not sold on account of wrong pricing. Rotten vegetables and fruits were sold at A-grade rates while A-grade items were not sold in any of the makeshift markets of the city.
This week price of potato was increased by Re one per kg, fixed at Rs10 to 12 per kg, while in open markets it was still selling at Rs15 to 20 per kg. Onion rate for Karachi variety was fixed at Rs26 to 28 per kg, and Rojhan variety at Rs18 to 20 per kg, while both were sold at Rs28 per kg.
The price of tomato was reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs46 to 50 per kg for A-category and Rs37 to 40 per kg for B-category while all variety sold at Rs50 per kg.
Garlic local was gained by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs107 to 112 per kg, not available, garlic Chinese was gained by Rs22 per kg, fixed at Rs171 to 180 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg. Ginger Chinese increased by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs170 to 177 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg, garlic Thai gained by Rs22 per kg, fixed at Rs151 to 160 per kg, sold at Rs180 per kg. Brinjal was stable at Rs39 to 41 per kg, mixed quality was sold at Rs40 per kg. Cucumber farm was unchanged at Rs34 to 36 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg. Mongray was gained by Rs7 per kg, fixed at Rs62 per kg, not sold at Rs80 to 100 per kg. Green pea was fixed at Rs232 to 242 per kg, sold at Rs300 per kg. Bitter gourd was fixed at Rs131 to 138 per kg, also not available on pricing issue.
Spinach was increased by Re one per kg, fixed at Rs16 to 17 kg, while sold at Rs20 per kg. Lemon Chinese was gained by Rs6 per kg, fixed at Rs59 to 62 per kg, sold at Rs80 per kg, lemon local was gained by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs126 to 132 per kg, sold at Rs160 per kg. Methi was reduced by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs27 to 29 per kg, not sold on wrong pricing issue.
Zucchini long gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs44 to 46 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg, Zucchini farm by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs57 to 60 per kg, and local variety was fixed at Rs145 to 152 per kg, not sold there.
Cauliflower was gained by Rs7 per kg, fixed at Rs34 to 36 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg, cabbage by Rs3 per kg, stable at Rs19 to 21 per kg, sold at Rs25 per kg. Pumpkin was fixed Rs49 to 51 per kg, sold at Rs60 to per kg, and Pumpkin long was sold at Rs70 per kg. Turnip was stable at Rs19 to 21 per kg. Green chili was reduced by Rs94 per kg, fixed at Rs116 to 128 per kg, not sold there due to pricing issue, while outside sold at Rs300 per kg. Capsicum reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs88 to 92 per kg, lower quality was sold at Rs100 per kg.
Pea was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs46 per kg, lower quality was sold at Rs50 per kg. Radish was gained by Rs2 per kg, fixed Rs16 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Carrot was fixed at Rs19 per kg, not sold on wrong pricing issue. Mustard leave gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs35 per kg, not available. Coriander was fixed at Rs40 per kg, sold at Rs120 per kg. Beans were sold at Rs200 per kg while no rates were fixed.
Luffa was gained by Rs7 per kg, fixed at Rs88 to 92 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg. Lady finger was increased by Rs10 per kg, fixed Rs142 per kg, sold at Rs160 per kg. The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs68 to 142 per kg, lower quality sold at Rs100 to 180 per kg.
Banana A- category fixed at Rs78 to 82 per dozen, B-category was fixed at Rs49 to 51 per dozen, while B-category was sold at Rs80 per dozen. Musammi was gained by Rs18 per kg, fixed at Rs134 to 140 per dozen, not sold on pricing issue. Different variety of citrus fruits were fixed at Rs83 to 150 per dozen, sold at Rs160 to 250 per dozen. Guava was stable at Rs57 to 60 per kg. Grape fruit was fixed at Rs21 per piece, lower quality sold at Rs15 to 20 per piece. Papaya was fixed at Rs92 to 97 per kg, sold at Rs100 to 120 per kg. Coconut whole was fixed at Rs136 to 142 per piece, sold at Rs150 per piece.
Strawberry special quality was fixed at Rs107 to 112 per kg, sold at Rs140 per kg, and B-quality was fixed at Rs54 to 56 per kg, sold at Rs110 per kg. Dates were fixed at Rs155 to 162 per kg, sold at Rs300 to 500 per kg. Melon A-category was fixed at Rs62 to 65 per kg, and B-category at Rs48 to 50 per kg while it sold at Rs70 per kg.
