Sunday bazaar : Overcharging continues unabated

LAHORE: Though prices of most seasonal vegetables showed a downward trend at the weekly Sunday bazaars, the greengrocers continued overcharging consumers in the absence of effective price control mechanism. The price list issued by the Lahore Market Committee showed that the prices of 19 vegetables had dropped while prices of seven vegetables increased and 10 remained unchanged this week compared to last week.  Consumers complained about overcharging and sale of substandard commodities. A shopper, Muhammad Shahzad pointed out that vendors were selling tomatoes, bitter gourd and cauliflowers at higher rates. According to a statement issued by the City District Government Lahore, the city administration had imposed a fine of Rs7,000 on vendors at Sunday bazaars for selling substandard commodities at higher prices.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2016.