Greengrocers deprive citizens of price relief

Local administration loses focus on enforcing official rate

LAHORE:

Profiteering on sale of essential commodities continued in markets across Lahore as the local administration apparently shifted all its focus towards arrangements for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket matches. Though prices of some seasonal fruit and vegetable dropped in comparison with the previous week, the benefit of the reduction could not be passed to consumers owing to lack of action on part of price control magistrates.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, several citizens complained about overcharging on essential commodities. A consumer, Muhammad Imran, said traders, vendors and greengrocers were fleecing citizens in broad daylight in absence of any price control system. “No vendor is following the rates mentioned on the official price list. Kinnow and other citrus varieties are being sold from carts by weight instead of the official retail unit of dozen but nobody is checking this irregularity,” he maintained. Several other residents said the problem of overcharging was not limited to fruits and vegetables.

A market survey showed that the official rate of live chicken had dropped by Rs4 per kg but in most areas it was sold above Rs210 per kg, about Rs25 higher than the official rate. Similarly, chicken meat rate was fixed at Rs281 but was sold for up to Rs350 per kg in different areas. The price of potato was reduced by Re1 per kg to Rs27 but was sold for over Rs30 per kg.

The price onion was reduced by Rs3 per kg to Rs27 but sold at Rs40 per kg. Local garlic was on sale for Rs300 instead of the official rate of Rs235, Chinese garlic Rs450 instead of Rs380, tomato Rs140 instead of Rs110, Chinese ginger Rs300 instead of Rs215, Thai ginger Rs240 instead of Rs205 and farm cucumber Rs60-80 instead of Rs52.