Citizens decry high prices at Sunday Bazaar in Pindi

Urge authorities to curb food inflation at the earliest

RAWALPINDI:

The intensifying wave of inflation has not even spared the Sunday Cheap Bazaar, as the prices of essential grocery items skyrocket, causing citizens grave distress.

In Rawalpindi's Committee Chowk Sunday Cheap Bazaar, ginger is being sold for Rs820 per kg, garlic for Rs600 per kg, onions for Rs130 per kg, potatoes for Rs100 per kg, tomatoes for Rs180 per kg and green chilies for Rs150 per kg. Bitter gourd is being sold at Rs200 per kg, lemons at Rs200 per kg, eggplants at Rs200 per kg and okra at Rs160 per kg.

The public, already suffering from inflation, is facing high prices even in the so-called 'cheap' markets. The prices of fruits in the Sunday market are also on the rise. Plums are being sold at Rs250 per kg, peach at Rs200 per kg, apricot at Rs250 per kg, mango at Rs150 to 250 per kg, and bananas at Rs100, 150, and 180 per dozen.

In addition to high electricity bills and increased taxes, citizens are even struggling with purchasing essential food items.

Akhtar Hussain, Malik Naseer and senior citizen Muhammad Malik, who had come to shop at the Sunday Bazaar, said the rates at the Bazaar were comparable to those in the open market. They implored that the government should ensure the district administration controls the inflation in the Sunday Cheap Bazaar.