In Lahore, grocery shopping falls heavy on the pocket

Govt fails to rein in prices of essential commodities

LAHORE:

To the dismay of citizens, prices of almost all seasonal fruits and vegetables were jacked up by vendors in markets across the provincial capital, Lahore.

Despite tall claims by the government of maintaining fair rates, price control authorities have failed to nab profiteers fleecing the citizens.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a citizen highlighted that the government had not even been able to ensure display of official rates at all stalls in the vegetable and fruit markets, forget enforcing those.

Sources said the government’s much talked about mobile application to check rates and submit complaints had also failed to rein in prices.

A market survey showed that price of poultry also witnessed an upward trend. Chicken is being sold at around Rs360 to Rs400 per kilogramme, although the official rate was fixed at Rs331 per kg only.

Read more: Guns N’ sprouts: Smuggling of arms rife at Lahore’s vegetable market

Similarly, the price of onions, tomatoes and potatoes surged much more than the designated rates, disabling citizens from buying groceries with ease.

Regardless of the dismal ground reality, the government through its media statements has boasted of its performance.

A handout issued by the provincial government on Sunday claimed that the city administration conducted raids in the provincial capital to end overcharging during the course of which 906 profiteers were apprehended and 971 cases were registered against violators during two months.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2021.