Citizens lament burgeoning inflation

Citizens kept complaining against soaring prices of seasonal fruits and vegetables in Sahulat Bazaars across the provincial capital despite the authorities asserting reduction in inflation across the province.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a number of buyers protested the sale of substandard produce at exorbitant rates though the special markets were set up by the government to reduce the economic burden on the citizens. A citizen, Muhammad Rafiq, remarked that there was not much of a difference between the prices of items in the open market and Sahulat Bazaars as most of the commodities were either of second grade or mixed quality to compensate for their reduced prices.

“Nobody is present in the market to check or regulate products’ prices and quality,” he pointed out. On the other hand, another citizen lamented the increase in the price of poultry at the market, stating that live chicken was priced at Rs216 per kilogramme by the government but it was being traded at around Rs240 per kilo everywhere.

Meanwhile, chicken meat was priced in the market at approximately Rs350 to Rs375 a kilo, adding more distress to the consumers.

Experts said chicken meat was being sold at its annual peak price although a respite of Rs5-7 was offered over the last few weeks. “Second grade potatoes are only available for sale at Rs115/kg, Rs30 more than the price mentioned on government rate list. Similarly, tomatoes are priced double than their specified rate and onions cost Rs25 more,” a female customer at the Sahulat Bazaar said warily.

“The citizens desperately need relief from the government as bread earners struggle to provide for their families amid pandemic,” she added.

A spokesperson for the Lahore deputy commissioner said a couple of days earlier that price control magistrates were actively monitoring prices of essential commodities in the field to ensure provision of items at the government rates.

A performance report shows that price control magistrates conducted 929 raids in different areas and found 84 violations in the metropolis on Friday. They slapped a fine of Rs189,000 against profiteers accused of different price regulation violations during the raids.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2020.