Soaring prices of fruit irk citizens in capital

ISLAMABAD:

Since the start of the Ramazan, the markets are flooded with food items especially dates, fruits, beverages and frozen items to attract customers but the high prices irk citizens.

Due to an increase in the price of the essential commodities people are in a dilemma over what to buy and what to forego, said a citizen, adding that sellers are using this month as an opportunity to multiply prices much more than before Ramazan. The sale of juicy watermelons, melon, banana, apple and other summer-related fruits have witnessed a surge in sales due to rising temperatures during Ramazan despite comparatively high prices.

A customer said the demand for fruits is high as making fruit chaat in Iftar is super easy and healthy. Fruits are the healthiest thing to eat after a fast due to their high nutrition value, he added while purchasing watermelon from a roadside vendor.

A fruit seller said that due to Ramazan the prices of apple, banana, watermelon and other fruits have also increased massively. "Shopkeepers are selling low-quality fruits at higher rates."

A grocery store seller said that like in previous years, hundreds of thousands of customers were seen visiting stores on a daily basis, hoping there would be a further spike in sales.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2022.