Vendors overcharge for rotten fruit, vegetables

LAHORE
The district government has given free hand to the vendors in the weekly makeshift market to misbehave, overcharge, and sell rotten and substandard items as no government officials are seen in these markets.
The most deploring situation is witnessed in the Shadman makeshift market - one of the model weekly bazaars of the city - where the district official even didn’t reach on duty till noon. The sound system arrived in the bazaar at 11:15am while the bazaar started at around 8:00am. Only three officials, one sub-inspector of market committee who issues the price cards to vendors, one livestock department official who checks the quality of meat being sold there and one lower cadre staff of the district government was on duty till 12:00 noon. Similarly, no complaint register was available there while no district government official was available to address the buyers’ grievances there.
Almost similar situation was witnessed in other bazaars as well with slight improvement.
Interestingly, Shadman weekly makeshift market is always the focus of the district government as the all political, and administrative always made ‘surprise visits’ here. However, this is proof that the district government knows that all these ‘surprise visitors’ are busy in something else so they overlook its model weekly makeshift market.
The vendors in the Shadman market not only overcharge, but also refuse to sell the vegetables to those who argue about quality of vegetables or fruits. Similarly, one market committee sub-inspector is unable to issue the price cards to all vendors or ensure all vendors have displayed it or not. Thus 20 percent vendors did not display the price cards issued to them.
The flip side of situation is, it might be possible that the existing few people who were on duty in connivance with the vendors did not issue the price card to them against which they get their share from them.
The buyers are affectees as vendors recover the money which they have given to the government officials through overcharging. Other than this, such vendors make more profit as compared to others as they overcharge the consumers.
The price of potato new was increased by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs28 to 31 per kg, potato sugar-free at Rs14 to 16 per kg; potato stored at Rs8 per kg, while sugar-free was sold at Rs31 per kg. The price of onion was gained by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs34 to 38 per kg, while mixed and rain-affected was sold at Rs38 per kg. The tomato rates were reduced by Rs5 per kg, reached Rs45 to 48 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg.
The price of garlic local was gained by Rs10 per kg, reached Rs115 to 125 per kg, sold at Rs160 per kg, garlic Chinese increased by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs130 to 145 per kg, sold at Rs150 per kg. Ginger China was fixed at Rs150 to 160 per kg, Singapore Rs104 to 110 per kg, while both were sold at Rs160 to 180 per kg. The price of brinjal was reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs15 to 17 per kg. Cucumber price was gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs50 to 55 per kg, cucumber farm at Rs35 to 40 per kg, while sold at Rs55 to 60 per kg.
Bitter gourd was gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed rates of Rs50 to 55 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. The price of spinach was gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs25 to 35 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg. Zucchini local was reduced by Rs4 per kg, fixed at Rs45 to 50 per kg, rotten was sold at Rs50 per kg. The price of lemon local was enhanced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs100 to 125 per kg, rotten was sold at Rs125 per kg; good quality was sold at Rs160 per kg. Pumpkin price declined by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs15 to 20 per kg, sold at Rs20 to 50 per kg. The price of cabbage was fixed at Rs30 to 38, sold at Rs50 per kg, and cauliflower fixed at Rs40 to 43 per kg, not available there while outside was sold at Rs80 per kg.
The price of green chilli local was fixed at Rs40 to 45 per kg, and green chilli farm at Rs25 to 29 per kg, both sold at Rs60 per kg. Capsicum price was gained by Rs3 per kg, fixed at Rs78 to 82 per kg, but not sold while just outside was sold at Rs120 per kg.
Arum price was stable at Rs40 to 45 per kg, but missing there. Ladyfinger reduced by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs30 to 35 per kg. The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs44 to 95 per kg, while sold at Rs50 to 100 per kg. The price of plump was gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs180 to 186 per kg, not sold there.
The rates of banana A quality was fixed at Rs55 to 60 per dozen, B-quality at Rs40 to 50 per dozen, sold at Rs60 per dozen. Pomegranate local price was gained by Rs26 per kg, fixed at Rs100 to 110 per kg, sold at Rs120 per kg. Guava rate was fixed at Rs35 to 40 per kg, sold at Rs50 to 60 per kg. Peer price was fixed at Rs60 to 70 per kg, sold at Rs80 per kg.
Grapes gola Black was fixed at Rs105 to 110 per kg, grapes Sunderkhani at Rs160 to 190 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg. The price of different variety of mangoes was fixed at Rs45 to 120 per kg, sold at Rs100 to 120 per kg. The price of peach special was fixed at Rs120 to 140 per kg, and B-quality at Rs65 to 72 per kg, while special was sold at Rs140 per kg.