Ramazan Bazaars: Shoppers complain of lemon shortage

Minister visits Gulshan-i-Ravi Ramazan Bazaar, suspends TMA in-charge

LAHORE: The City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) has failed to ensure the availability of lemons at most Ramazan Bazaars.

Lemons were not available at the Model Town Link Road and Barkat Market Garden Town Ramazan Bazaars.

Vendors said that the government had fixed lemon prices far below the wholesale rate. “We cannot sell lemons at Rs60 per kilogramme less than the wholesale rate. The price fixed by the CDGL is too low,” said Muhammad Aslam, a greengrocer.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a market committee official said the government was trying to ensure the availability of lemons at Ramazan Bazaars. “We have failed to reach an agreement with the vendors over its price. Lemons are available at Rs240 per kg in the wholesale market. Why will the vendors sell them at Rs180 per kg in the Ramazan Bazaars?” he asked.

The government has fixed the price of premium quality desi lemons at Rs174 to Rs180 per kg. The price of a second grade lemon variety has been fixed at Rs104 to Rs110 per kg. Both varieties were unavailable at most Ramazan Bazaars on Wednesday.

Several shoppers complained about the poor quality of fruit and vegetables. They said vendors were selling second grade fruit and vegetables at premium grade price tag. A shopper, Saleem, said that the government had made remarkable arrangements for the Ramazan Bazaars this year. “However, it has badly failed to ensure the quality of the commodities. When you enter a Ramazan Bazaar, white sofa sets, hoardings and air-conditioned canopies give you a great feeling. But when you take a closer look at the fruit and vegetables, you realise that their quality is very poor,” he said.

Most vendors were found selling average quality Aseel dates at Rs130 per kg. A few stalls were offing Iranian dates for Rs161 to Rs167 per kg. Iraqi dates were not available.

Minister for Food Bilal Yasin has said that the government would give exemplary punishment to hoarders and profiteers. “The government has set up Ramazan Bazaars to facilitate people. We will not allow anybody to fleece citizens,” he said. The minister visited various Ramazan Bazaars in the city to check availability of essential commodities.

Agriculture Minister Dr Farrukh Javed visited the Gulshan-i-Ravi and Islampura Ramazan Bazaars and checked the quality and availability of food items. He suspended from service Samanabad TMA in-charge Rai Imtiaz Hassan over absence of staff and sale of expired oil and ghee in the market. The minister directed the DCO to ensure the availability of essential commodities at the bazaar. During his visit to Islampura Ramazan Bazaar, people complained to the minister about the lack of lemons.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2016.