Fruit, vegetable prices rise further

Traders, street vendors charging almost double the official rates

LAHORE:

Prices of almost all essential commodities continued to rise for the third consecutive week ahead of Eidul Azha.

A comparison of seasonal fruit and vegetable prices indicates an increase of 40% and 60% in rates across the provincial capital in the absence of efficient price control regime.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, several citizens complained about exorbitant increase in commodity prices in almost all areas of the metropolis. A customer named Adnan Malik, said the government has shifted its entire focus on coronavirus and politics and left people at the mercy of profiteers.

A customer, Adil Mahmood, said greengrocers were fleecing the citizens by overcharging them ahead of the Eid, but no authority was active to check or control the prices.

Both traders and street vendors were selling agricultural produce at high prices, which in some cases are almost double the official rates.

DC orders vegetable, fruit rate list daily

The official price list issued by the Lahore Market Committee showed that the price of sorted onion was fixed at Rs35-37 per kg but it was being sold in the city for Rs50 per kg. Similaly, B-grade onion price is fixed at Rs31 to 33 per kg, but sold at Rs35 to 40 per kg, and C-grade at Rs30 to 35 per kg.

The price of potato was fixed at Rs50 to 54 per kg, but sold at Rs75 per kg, and stored potato gained by Rs10 per kg to be fixed at Rs42 to 45 but was sold at Rs50 to 60 per kg.

The price of tomato A-grade was raised by Rs20 per kg to Rs95 to 100, but sold at Rs160 per kg and B-grade at Rs100 to 120 per kg. Local garlic was available for Rs240 per kg despite the official rate of Rs180 to 185 and Chinese garlic’s was also much higher than the fixed rate of Rs150 to 155 per kg.

Chinese ginger gained Rs30 per kg to Rs325, but was sold at Rs400. Cucumber was sold for Rs80 per kg, brinjal Rs80 and spinach Rs60.

The price of the lemon was fixed at Rs110 to 115 per kg, but sold at Rs120 to 150 per kg.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2020.