Sunday bazaar: Eid cuisine commodities’ prices rise ahead of holiday

Customer says though the govt had managed to keep commodity price under control, it had failed to ensure food quality

LAHORE: A rise in prices of most commodities used in traditional Eid cuisines was recorded at most Sunday Bazaars in the city.

A survey of Sunday Bazaars in Shadman and Model Town showed that although there was adequate supply of seasonal fruits and vegetables, prices of most commodities had risen compared to the previous week.

Mrs Khan, one of the shoppers, said, “Prices of onions, ginger, garlic, tomatoes and vegetables used in Eid dishes have doubled. A few weeks ago, five kilogrammes of onions were selling for Rs100. Now they are asking for Rs50 or Rs60 per kilogramme. The price of garlic has also skyrocketed. It is selling for Rs300 and Rs340 per kilogramme.”

Muhammad Jamil, a buyer at Model Town Sunday Bazaar, told The Express Tribune that tomatoes had been selling between Rs25 and Rs30 per kilogramme. “Now the prices have risen to Rs60 per kilogramme. Every year, merciless profiteers exploit the public. This is not an issue of supply and demand. It reflects a crisis of governance,” he said.

Naziran Bibi said though the government had managed to keep commodity price under control, it had failed to ensure food quality.

“Most vendors are selling wet onions of poor quality at Sunday bazaars. They are cheating the public and making a mockery of the government.”

She said most vendors were selling poor quality vegetables at high prices. “Nobody seems willing to address this issue.”

The price list issued by the Lahore Market Committee showed over 71 per cent increase in the price of lemons. Premium quality lemons sold between Rs175 and Rs186. Those of inferior quality were available between Rs115 and Rs120 per kilogramme.

The price of green chilies went up by 71 per cent. They sold between Rs90 and Rs94 per kilogramme. ‘Farmed’ green chilies sold between Rs55 and Rs60 per kilogramme.

The price of cabbages also rose by 57 per cent. These were available between Rs50 and Rs55 per kilogramme.

The prices of tomatoes rose by 21 per cent. They sold between Rs48 and Rs51 per kilogramme.

Onions sold between Rs22 and Rs25 per kilogramme, registering a 14 per cent raise in prices.

The prices of locally produced carrots registered a 13 per cent raise. They sold between Rs40 and Rs45 per kilogramme. Chinese carrots sold between Rs55 and Rs60 per kilogramme.

Chinese garlic was available between Rs270 and Rs285 per kilogramme, registering an eight per cent increase in prices. Locally-produced garlic sold between Rs230 and Rs240 per kilogramme.

The price of green peas rose by three per cent. They sold between Rs140 and Rs155 per kilogramme.

The prices of pumpkins, bitter gourds, locally-produced cucumbers, fenugreek (methi), Chinese ginger, taro roots (arvi), potatoes and okra declined this week. Pumpkins sold for Rs16 per kilogram. Bitter gourds sold between Rs30 and Rs35 per kilogramme.

Locally-produced cucumbers were available between Rs40 and Rs45 per kilogramme. Fenugreek sold between Rs95 and Rs100 per kilogram, following a 12 per cent reduction in price.

The price of Chinese ginger declined by 11 per cent. It sold between Rs110 and Rs125 per kilogramme.

The price of taro roots dropped by 10 per cent. These sold between Rs40 and Rs45 per kilogramme.

Potatoes were available between Rs34 and Rs38 per kilogramme, registering a 10 per cent decline in price.

Sugar-free potatoes sold between Rs34 and Rs38 per kilogram. Cold-stored potatoes sold between Rs17 and Rs19 per kilogramme. Okra sold between Rs60 and Rs65 per kilogramme.

The prices of brinjals, spinach, cauliflower, bottle gourd, capsicum, radishes and turnips remained unchanged.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2016.