Punjab govt fails to rein in illegal profiteering at makeshift markets
Shoppers complain about unavailability of many seasonal fruits in Sunday bazaars
PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
The price hike, overcharging and non-availability seasonal fruit and vegetable on the pretext of wrong pricing continued in weekly makeshift markets in the provincial capital on Sunday.
The government functionaries and public representatives visited different Sunday bazaars along with cameras and media reporters for photo opportunity besides checking prices and inspection of products quality.
Price Control Taskforce Convener Chaudhry Muhammad Akram paid a surprise visit to Shadman Sunday Bazaar along with media cameras and his associates to check prices of essential commodities.
Sunday Bazaars: Prices of 22 vegetables go up
Commenting on the government officials visits to check commodity prices in weekly makeshift markets, a private university professor Chaudhry Fazal Elahi said public representatives and the government functionaries had been visiting Sunday bazaars for the past several decades but their surprise visits neither succeeded in controlling prices nor improved products quality.
“Successive governments in Pakistan have failed to fix food products quality and pricing issues because of ad hoc policies. Every government in the country tries to find a quick fix instead of solving these issues permanently,” he said.
“They have failed to develop an efficient and effective price control system. The government has a limited number of price control magistrates, who half-heartedly perform this function for several political and administrative reasons while commercial activity has been spread manifold in all areas of the provincial metropolis.”
Muhammad Ilyas, a shopper, complained about non-availability of different several fresh vegetables from the makeshift market, while the same is being sold outside these bazaars at higher rates.
He also highlighted that quality of most fruit and vegetable in the weekly makeshift market is second and third grade but vendors are asking for A-grade rates as notified by market committee. Similar, complaints were made by several other citizens.
Greengrocers and traders, on the other hand, blamed the government for distortions in weekly makeshift markets.
A trader of Shadman Sunday Bazaar said an increase in fuel prices and inflation have increased transport cost, causing a negative impact on the commodity prices.
Market survey shows an increasing price trend in weekly makeshift markets. The price of potato soft skin witnessed an increase of Rs2 per kilogramme, fixed at Rs36 to Rs47 per kilogramme. However, it was not available in the market. Similarly, sugar-free potato at Rs21 to Rs24 per kilogramme and potato store was fixed at Rs16 to Rs17 per kilogramme, while it was being sold at Rs46 per kilogramme.
The official price of onion was increased by Rs1 per kilogramme and fixed at Rs53 to Rs56 per kilogramme. Almost 100% increase in the price of tomato was witnessed and reached at Rs67 to Rs80 per kilogramme, mixed sold at Rs80 per kilogramme.
The price of lemon was gained by Rs5 per kilogramme, fixed at Rs77 to Rs80 per kilogramme, and Chinese Rs38 to Rs40 per kilogramme, sold at Rs80 per kg kilogramme. The price of garlic local was fixed at Rs156 to Rs167 per kilogramme while it was being sold at Rs180 per kilogramme.
Ginger Chinese was fixed at Rs245 to Rs256 per kilogramme, the lower quality was sold at Rs280 per kilogramme.
The cucumber was fixed at Rs62 to Rs64 per kilogramme and local variety fixed at Rs38 to Rs40 kilogramme. Bitter gourd was fixed at Rs100 to Rs105 per kilogramme, not sold on the pricing issue.
Cauliflower was fixed at Rs58 to Rs61 per kilogramme but was not available in the makeshift bazaars. It was being sold outside at Rs100 per kilogramme. The cabbage was fixed at Rs41 to Rs43 per kilogramme, sold at Rs50 per kilogramme.
Coriander was fixed at Rs250 per kilogramme, sold at Rs400 per kilogramme. Beans were fixed at Rs340 per kilogramme, sold at Rs400 per kilogramme. Methi was fixed at Rs92 to Rs95 per kilogramme.
Fruit, Vegetable Prices: Public asked to demand rate lists
The price of a different variety of apples was fixed at Rs40 to Rs107 per kilogramme. The price of banana A-category was fixed at Rs60 to Rs62 per dozen and B-category was fixed at Rs45 to Rs47 per dozen, sold at Rs 60 per dozen, while A-category was not available.
Peach A-category fixed at Rs145 to Rs150 per kilogramme, and B-category at Rs66 to Rs105 per kilogramme sold at Rs140 per kilogramme while A-category was not available there.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2019.
The price hike, overcharging and non-availability seasonal fruit and vegetable on the pretext of wrong pricing continued in weekly makeshift markets in the provincial capital on Sunday.
The government functionaries and public representatives visited different Sunday bazaars along with cameras and media reporters for photo opportunity besides checking prices and inspection of products quality.
Price Control Taskforce Convener Chaudhry Muhammad Akram paid a surprise visit to Shadman Sunday Bazaar along with media cameras and his associates to check prices of essential commodities.
Sunday Bazaars: Prices of 22 vegetables go up
Commenting on the government officials visits to check commodity prices in weekly makeshift markets, a private university professor Chaudhry Fazal Elahi said public representatives and the government functionaries had been visiting Sunday bazaars for the past several decades but their surprise visits neither succeeded in controlling prices nor improved products quality.
“Successive governments in Pakistan have failed to fix food products quality and pricing issues because of ad hoc policies. Every government in the country tries to find a quick fix instead of solving these issues permanently,” he said.
“They have failed to develop an efficient and effective price control system. The government has a limited number of price control magistrates, who half-heartedly perform this function for several political and administrative reasons while commercial activity has been spread manifold in all areas of the provincial metropolis.”
Muhammad Ilyas, a shopper, complained about non-availability of different several fresh vegetables from the makeshift market, while the same is being sold outside these bazaars at higher rates.
He also highlighted that quality of most fruit and vegetable in the weekly makeshift market is second and third grade but vendors are asking for A-grade rates as notified by market committee. Similar, complaints were made by several other citizens.
Greengrocers and traders, on the other hand, blamed the government for distortions in weekly makeshift markets.
A trader of Shadman Sunday Bazaar said an increase in fuel prices and inflation have increased transport cost, causing a negative impact on the commodity prices.
Market survey shows an increasing price trend in weekly makeshift markets. The price of potato soft skin witnessed an increase of Rs2 per kilogramme, fixed at Rs36 to Rs47 per kilogramme. However, it was not available in the market. Similarly, sugar-free potato at Rs21 to Rs24 per kilogramme and potato store was fixed at Rs16 to Rs17 per kilogramme, while it was being sold at Rs46 per kilogramme.
The official price of onion was increased by Rs1 per kilogramme and fixed at Rs53 to Rs56 per kilogramme. Almost 100% increase in the price of tomato was witnessed and reached at Rs67 to Rs80 per kilogramme, mixed sold at Rs80 per kilogramme.
The price of lemon was gained by Rs5 per kilogramme, fixed at Rs77 to Rs80 per kilogramme, and Chinese Rs38 to Rs40 per kilogramme, sold at Rs80 per kg kilogramme. The price of garlic local was fixed at Rs156 to Rs167 per kilogramme while it was being sold at Rs180 per kilogramme.
Ginger Chinese was fixed at Rs245 to Rs256 per kilogramme, the lower quality was sold at Rs280 per kilogramme.
The cucumber was fixed at Rs62 to Rs64 per kilogramme and local variety fixed at Rs38 to Rs40 kilogramme. Bitter gourd was fixed at Rs100 to Rs105 per kilogramme, not sold on the pricing issue.
Cauliflower was fixed at Rs58 to Rs61 per kilogramme but was not available in the makeshift bazaars. It was being sold outside at Rs100 per kilogramme. The cabbage was fixed at Rs41 to Rs43 per kilogramme, sold at Rs50 per kilogramme.
Coriander was fixed at Rs250 per kilogramme, sold at Rs400 per kilogramme. Beans were fixed at Rs340 per kilogramme, sold at Rs400 per kilogramme. Methi was fixed at Rs92 to Rs95 per kilogramme.
Fruit, Vegetable Prices: Public asked to demand rate lists
The price of a different variety of apples was fixed at Rs40 to Rs107 per kilogramme. The price of banana A-category was fixed at Rs60 to Rs62 per dozen and B-category was fixed at Rs45 to Rs47 per dozen, sold at Rs 60 per dozen, while A-category was not available.
Peach A-category fixed at Rs145 to Rs150 per kilogramme, and B-category at Rs66 to Rs105 per kilogramme sold at Rs140 per kilogramme while A-category was not available there.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2019.