Govt fails to curtail prices of produce

Where the government’s imposition of duties on imported items naturally forces elite citizens to cut down on their purchase of luxury goods like watches and perfumes, for the vast majority surviving hand-to-mouth amidst devastating financial conditions, the current wave of artificial inflation has made even staple food items like fruits and vegetables unaffordable.

One such local was Bushra Shahid, who was spotted buying vegetables at a market in Iqbal Town. “The prices of vegetables and fruits have become uncontrollable since the government officers have been unsuccessful in curtailing them. Prices are almost double this time compared to last year. When you protest to the shopkeeper, he says that he has brought expensive commodities from the market,” lamented Bushra.

Similarly, Mehboob Ahmed, a customer shopping at the Singhpura vegetable and fruit market felt that the middleman charged whatever prices he wished for his produce. “Once upon a time cheap items were available in the market, but now the middleman shopkeeper is also selling expensive items, that too of substandard quality,” said Ahmed.

“The increase in onion prices is due to the incompetence of the government. Last year and this year too, the local onion crop was affected by a virus. At the same time, due to the increase in the demand of onion in the world market, the farmers exported the onion crop before it was fully matured, which reduced the production per acre. Now the situation is such that good onion has been exported and our people are now eating poor quality, imported onion,” revealed Sabzi Mandi Anjuman President Haji Shabbir and Phal Mandi Ravi Road President Haji Muhammad Ramzan.

According to official data obtained by The Express Tribune, compared to last year, the prices of 13 fruits and vegetables have increased by Rs10 to Rs185 per kg this year, but in practice, the increase in the prices of these items is much more than that mentioned in the government report since the provincial departments of Punjab have proved unable to eliminate the artificial increase in the prices of produce. The official price list issued by the market committee is a mere piece of paper for the traders in the open market, which is rarely, if ever, implemented. Shopkeepers have to buy this price list, which costs Rs20 or Rs50. Instead of displaying it prominently in the shop or stall, they keep it in a hidden place and then charge their own price.

Compared to March 2023, the prices of food items in 2024 have increased significantly by 24 to 236 per cent. Cabbage was priced at Rs80 per kg last year and is now sold at Rs300. Onions cost Rs95 last year compared to Rs185 this year. The price of tomatoes previously was Rs70 and is now Rs120 per kg. Potatoes were sold at Rs45 per kg last year but this time they cost Rs55 to Rs60. Ginger is being sold at Rs265 per kg after an increase of Rs25 over last year’s price. The price of apples used to soar during Ramadan, but if we compare the price before Ramadan, the price of medium sized apples has increased by Rs50 this year. Similarly, bananas were selling at Rs150 to Rs165 last year, and are now sold at Rs190 to Rs210 per dozen this year. The price of country garlic has increased from Rs240 to Rs285, while the price of Chinese garlic has increased from Rs340 to Rs600 per kg. Finally, cucumber, which was sold at Rs45 per kg last year, is sold at Rs63, while okra, which was sold at Rs190 per kg, is being sold at Rs340 per kg this year.