CDA fails to check stallholders from fleecing customers at weekly bazaars

Islamabad
With just a couple of days left in start of holy month of Ramazan, the concerned officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) have not been able to stop stallholders of weekly bazaars from fleecing customers.
During visits to Tuesday weekly bazaars established in sectors H-9 and I-9, one could find that there was no comparison in prices of fruits and vegetables as fixed by the civic body and demanded by stallholders.
The officials who are deputed at the two bazaars respond to the situation only when they are approached by customers. But their response is not enough to satisfy customers, as they are advised to first purchase the item and come to them later.
The customers interviewed by ‘The News’ complained about overcharging by stallholders and improper display of price lists. “The stallholders display prices of commodities on a small slate of just nine square inches. So much so the slates are placed in a way that the customers are unable to check the prices,” a customer at I-9 Weekly Bazaar said.
As far as overcharging is concerned, the fruit-sellers demand at least 25% to 60% higher prices than the ones fixed by the CDA. For example, the stallholders demand Rs250 per kilogram for cherries against the actual price of Rs200, lychee Rs250 per kilogram against the price of Rs 200, green chillies Rs 15 Rs 20 per 250 grams against their fixed price of Rs32 per kilogram (Rs 8 per 250 grams) and ginger for Rs70 to Rs80 per 250 grams against its fixed rate of Rs248 per kilogram (Rs 62 per 250 grams)
On the other hand, the stallholders complain that they are not getting satisfactory rates of vegetables and fruits, whereas the prices of various items at I-11 Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market are higher than the prices given for weekly bazaars.
However, it has been learnt that the Islamabad administration has not been able to adopt a mechanism for fixing prices of fruits and vegetables and that was why the CDA’s concerned officials face problems in setting rates for weekly bazaars.
An official of the CDA, when contacted by this correspondent, said that the officials who are not performing their duties with responsibility at weekly bazaars would be taken to task. “There will be a few changes in the Bazaar Directorate today or tomorrow to improve its working,” the official said.