Sunday Bazaar: Customers complain about inflated prices

No govt official seen at Shadman Chowk and Wahdat Sunday Bazaars

LAHORE: Several citizens complained on Sunday about overcharging at Sunday Bazaars in the absence of district government officials at the weekly markets.

No government official were in sight during a visit to Shadman Chowk and Wahdat bazaars.

Several shoppers The Express Tribune spoke to said greengrocers had cashed in on the absence of government officials and overcharged their customers. “I have been looking for an authority figure for half an hour to register a complaint against a kiosk owner selling substandard vegetables at premium-product prices,” Muhammad Amjad, one of the customers said.

Another shopper said many vendors were charging arbitrary prices for the same commodities. “Everyone is claiming that his goods are superior to ones being sold by others. I do not see much difference. It is the local government’s responsibility to monitor the prices,” he said.



According to the official list, the price of potatoes (new) was stable at Rs 10-15 a kilogramme. Price for onions had risen by Rs3 a kilogramme to Rs 35-39. A majority of vendors were, however, selling sorted onions for Rs45-50 a kilogramme and the remaining lot for Rs 36-40 a kilogramme.

The price of ginger (Chinese and Thai) was higher by Rs5 a kilogramme; the price of Chinese ginger stood at Rs 120-130 a kilogramme and that of Thai ginger at Rs70-75 a kilogramme. But greengrocers were seen charging an additional Rs10 for both types.

The price of bitter gourd had swelled by Rs5 a kilogramme to Rs50-55 a kilogramme. The vegetable was, however, hardly spotted. It was being sold outside the bazaars for Rs80-90 a kilogramme.

The lemon (Chinese) price was higher by Rs5 a kilogramme at Rs 40-50 a kilogramme... a majority of vendors were selling it for Rs55-60 a kilogramme.

The prices of tomatoes, garlic and brinjald had declined. The price of tomatoes had reduced by Rs10 a kilogramme to Rs 28-33 a kilogramme and that of garlic by Rs3 a kilogramme to Rs215-222 a kilogramme. Brinjals’ price was Rs5 a kilogramme lower at Rs20-25 a kilogramme.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2016.