Punjab govt yet to reopen Sunday bazaars

Situation in commercial areas being monitored

LAHORE:

Though life has largely returned to normal following improvement in the Covid-19 situation, the government is still reluctant to open Sunday bazaars in the provincial metropolis.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, an official of the district administration said the provincial cabinet committee on coronavirus had not yet made any decision about the weekly makeshift markets. The reopening of Sunday bazaars would come under discussion in forthcoming meetings as places of mass gathering, like banquets, marriage halls and educational institutes, are still closed owing to the threat of the pandemic, the official said.

He highlighted that the government was continuously monitoring the situation as after opening of the commercial areas as a surge might be witnessed in Covid-19 cases. The Punjab health department had also issued a warning in this regard, he added.

Though Sunday bazaars are closed across the provincial capital, market committees are regularly issuing price lists. A comparison of seasonal fruit and vegetable prices and a market survey of the metropolis showed that the rates were showing an upward trend.

The price of premium quality soft skin potato was fixed at Rs64 to Rs68 per kg but it was hardly available in the market, while price of B-grade variety was fixed at Rs58 to Rs62 and it was sold at the premium grade price in a few markets only. Sugar-free potato’s price was fixed at Rs53 to Rs57 per kg but it was sold for Rs70 to Rs80 owing to lack of an efficient price control system.

The price of A-grade onion witnessed a decline of Rs10 and was fixed at Rs35 to Rs37 per kg. It was also sold at a higher rate of Rs50. B-grade onion’s price was fixed at Rs28 to Rs30 and sold at Rs40 per keg while the C-grade variety’s official price was Rs24 to Rs26, but it was sold for Rs30 to Rs35 per kg.

The price of A-grade tomato gained Rs15 per kg to Rs80 to Rs85 per kg, while it was sold at Rs100 to Rs120 per kg in markets across the city. B-grade tomato was sold at Rs80 and C-grade Rs70 to Rs75 per kg.

The price of local garlic was fixed at Rs165 to Rs170, but it was available for Rs220 to Rs240 per kg, Chinese garlic’s price was fixed at Rs140 to Rs145 but was sold at Rs240 per kg. The price of Chinese ginger also showed an upward trend. It was fixed at Rs430 to Rs440 per kg following an increase of Rs25, but sold for Rs500 per kg.

Farm cucumber’s price was fixed at Rs40 but it was sold for Rs60 per kg. Local cucumber was sold at Rs80 to Rs100 per kg, although its official price was Rs55. Brinjal was sold at Rs50 per kg, bitter gourd Rs50 and spinach Rs60 per kg.

The price of lemon showed a decline of Rs25 per kg and was fixed at Rs110 to Rs115, but it was sold at Rs160 to Rs200 per kg. Pumpkin’s price increased to R100 per kg. Lady finger was sold at up to Rs80 per kg, green chili Rs100, capsicum Rs120, cauliflower Rs160 and cabbage Rs100 per kg.

A similar price trend was witnessed for fruits.

Several citizens complained about higher rates and lower quality of the products. Muhammad Ali, who was buying vegetables in a market, said that owing to the negligence of the state machinery, greengrocers were selling B and C-grade products at the price fixed for premium quality. Most vendors were selling blended varieties but no action was being taken to stop them, he alleged.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2020.