Administration bows to market pressure, hikes fruit prices

KARACHI:

The prices of fruits are increasing without any control in the city, leaving citizens struggling to make ends meet.

Despite efforts by the city administration, fruit market wholesalers have been unable to control rising prices, prompting Commissioner Karachi to put the burden on consumers.

The city administration was unable to maintain the official fruit prices, resulting in the authorities increasing the official rates. Instead of taking effective measures to control the escalating prices, the government has increased official prices by up to Rs25, bringing the official rates close to the market prices.

The increased official prices have affected various fruits, including guava, which has risen from Rs150 to Rs175, watermelon from Rs97 to Rs114, banana from Rs155 to Rs208, chiko (sapodilla) from Rs258 to Rs278, golden apple from Rs230 to Rs261, and dates from Rs550 to Rs644.