Fruit, vegetable sellers overcharge openly

LAHORE :Unprecedented price hike was witnessed across the City in the absence of any checks and balances by the government exposing its writ which remained limited to conducting meetings and issuing handouts of these meetings.

During the last week, provincial minister, secretary industry had conducted couple of meetings on the price hike of perishable items and open violations of the official price list. However, the result of these meetings was altogether opposite as the more price hike and overcharging witnessed across the city. The sellers were daring enough to challenge the buyers to register complaints on any platform of their choice while they will charge the price of their choice. If the buyer is not interested to pay the sellers’ asking price he can go to any other shop to buy at official rates. But unfortunately the official rate lists are not implemented anywhere in the city so the buyers are compelled to pay sellers asking rates.

For the third consecutive week, no weekly makeshift market was established in the City due to ongoing Covid-19 lockdown while regular markets, shops of fruits and vegetables remained functional where the sellers were openly overcharging.

The price of potato soft skin new A-grade was increased by Re one per kg, fixed at Rs33 to 35 per kg, and potato B-grade fixed at Rs30 to 32 per kg, mixed sold at Rs40 to 50 per kg.

The price of onion A-grade was fixed at Rs42 to 45 per kg, B-grade at Rs37 to 40 per kg, mixed sold at Rs60 per kg. The price of tomato A-grade gained by Rs14 per kg, fixed at Rs37 to 40 per kg, B-grade at Rs33 to 37 per kg mixed sold at Rs30 to 50 per kg. The price of garlic local increased by Rs22 per kg, fixed at Rs140 to 145 per kg, sold at Rs160 per kg, garlic Chinese was gained by Rs65 per kg, fixed at Rs345 to 355 per kg, sold at Rs400 per kg.

Ginger Chinese was increased by Rs50 per kg, fixed at Rs350 to 360 per kg, not sold, ginger Thai by Rs50 per kg, fixed at Rs325 to 330 per kg, sold at Rs380 per kg. Brinjal price was increased by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs30 to 32 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. Cucumber farm was gained by Rs6 per kg, fixed at Rs28 to 30 per kg, sold at Rs30 to 40 per kg.

Bitter gourd price was unchanged at Rs115 to 120 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg. Spinach local farm was reduced by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs16 to 18 per kg, both sold at Rs30 per kg. Zucchini long was fixed at 20 to 22 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg, zucchini round was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs28 to 30 per kg, both sold at Rs50 per kg. The price of lemon Chinese was fixed at Rs63 to 65 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg. Cauliflower was fixed at Rs23 to 25 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg, and cabbage fixed at Rs22 to 24 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg.

Pumpkin was gained by Rs8 per kg, fixed at Rs43 to 45 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg. Ladyfinger price remained unchanged at Rs145 to 150 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg. Arum was fixed at Rs80 to 85 per kg, not sold. Green chili price was fixed at Rs45 to 75 per kg, sold at Rs80 to 100 per kg. Capsicum price was reduced by Rs35 per kg, fixed 70 to 75 per kg, sold at Rs140 per kg. The price of pea was increased by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs40 to 42 per kg, not available. Carrot local was fixed at Rs26 to 28 per kg, rotten sold at Rs50 per kg.

Coriander was fixed at Rs35 to 40 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg.

Methi was fixed at Rs23 to 25 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. Turnip was fixed at Rs13 to 15 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Mustard leaves fixed at Rs26 to 28 per kg, not sold. Radish fixed at Rs16 to 18 per kg, sold at Rs40 per kg. Beetroot was fixed at Rs35 to 40 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. Gram green was sold at Rs160 to 200 per kg. The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs58 to 180 per kg, B-grade sold at Rs100 to 150 per kg and A-grade was sold at Rs200 to 250 per kg. The price of Banana A-category fixed at Rs150 to 155 per dozen, not available and B-category fixed at Rs75 to 80 per dozen, sold at Rs90 to 120 per dozen.