Profiteering continues at Ramazan bazaars unabated

LAHORE: Despite all the claims of the provincial and district governments, profiteering continues unchecked in Ramazan bazaars and open markets in the city.

Vendors have found new ways to fleece people, locals said. In Ramazan bazaars, they are selling assorted varieties or substandard commodities at the price of superior quality goods. In the open market, vendors sell goods at prices about 40 to 50% higher than the notified, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday.

Akram Ali, a local, confirmed greengrocers and traders everywhere in the city were selling fruits and vegetables at much higher prices. “An army of price control magistrates has been tasked to keep a check on overcharging. Senior government officials, ministers and politicians are all visiting bazaars and markets to check the quality and prices of different commodities, but the situation did not seem to improve. Vendors, who are hardly educated, always find a way to fool the administration which has failed to develop a permanent system to solve this issue,” he remarked.



Official price list issued by the Lahore Market Committee showed that the price of potatoes was fixed at Rs35 and Rs37 per kilogramme, but the vegetable was being sold for Rs40 in Ramazan bazaars and Rs45 to 50 in the open market. Onions, fixed at Rs19-21, were being sold at Rs26-30 in the open market. Similarly, the price trend for other vegetables, especially spinach, was fixed at Rs15-17. However, it was being sold at Rs30 per kg, while lemon, fixed at Rs204 and Rs210, was being sold for between Rs260 and 300 in different areas of the city.

The government had mentioned rates for lemon on official price lists for Ramazan bazaars, but it failed to ensure its availability in all makeshift markets, citizens complained.

Due to the absence of effective price control mechanism, all seasonal fruits were being sold at exorbitantly high prices. Vendors were overcharging citizens as there was virtually no check on quality and prices in the open market.

Official price lists fixed the rate of superior quality bananas price at Rs99-105 a dozen, but it was hovering between Rs160-170 a dozen in open markets. Citizens pointed out that in most Ramazan bazaars, low quality bananas were put on sale with a price tag of premium quality. White apple price was fixed at Rs95-100 a kilogramme, but it was available for Rs150-Rs170 a kilogramme in open market.

Citizens expressed strong reservations on the quality of fruits, dates and other essential commodities sold at Wahdat Colony, Model Town Link Road and Township Ramazan bazaars. A Township resident, Arslan Qureshi, said most vendors were selling substandard dates. “If citizens had to buy dates from the open market at a premium price, then what is the purpose for setting up these bazaars?” he asked.



Citizens complained the government was offering a subsidy to reduce commodity prices in these specially regulated markets, but the benefit did not trickle down to the common man. In some Ramazan bazaars, vendors were selling substandard pulses, spices and unbranded packed items.

A market committee official said a larger number of people thronged Ramazan bazaars. “It is difficult for authorities to control prices of all commodities all the time. Market committees are trying to refill stocks four to five times a day but still had to face public complaints,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2017.