Govt's food price struggle goes on
The Punjab government has reverted to its previous mechanism of setting prices for live chicken as well as meat following the failure of an alternative system aimed at stabilising poultry prices.
However, as in the past, enforcement remains weak, and the official price lists continue to be widely ignored in markets across the province.
Milk vendors have also raised prices unilaterally, with the rates increasing by Rs20 per litre and curd prices rising by Rs20 to Rs30 per kilogramme in recent days.
This week, the official rate for live chicken was set between Rs249 and Rs263 per kg, but many sellers refused to comply. Chicken meat was officially priced at Rs381, yet it was commonly sold for between Rs480 and Rs530 per kg, with boneless chicken reaching as high as Rs1,000.
Vegetables also saw significant price disparities. A-grade soft-skin potatoes, officially priced at Rs55 to Rs60, were sold at Rs120 to Rs140 per kg. B and C-grade varieties were priced at Rs35 to Rs50, yet mixed-grade potatoes sold for up to Rs100 per kg. Sugar-free potatoes had similarly wide gaps between official and market prices.
A-grade onions were officially priced at Rs35 to Rs40, but sold for up to Rs80. B-grade onions were listed at Rs27 to Rs30 and C-grade at Rs22 to Rs25, yet mixed varieties fetched Rs50 to Rs60.
Tomatoes also saw price hikes, with A-grade fixed at Rs35 to Rs40 but selling for up to Rs100 per kg. Garlic and ginger prices exceeded official rates dramatically, with local garlic priced at Rs176 to Rs185 but selling for Rs250 to Rs300, and Chinese garlic fixed at Rs248 but retailing for Rs400.
Thai ginger, fixed at Rs525 to Rs550, was sold at Rs650 to Rs700 per kg.
Other vegetables such as brinjal, bitter gourd, spinach, zucchini, and lemon also showed large gaps between official and actual market rates.
Fruits also saw excessive pricing. Apple varieties, officially listed between Rs270 and Rs430 per kg, sold for up to Rs800. Banana prices were also inflated; A-grade, officially Rs180 to Rs200 per dozen, reached Rs350 per dozen.
Dates remained officially priced at Rs430 to Rs460 but were sold for Rs900 to Rs2,000. Papaya, fixed at Rs352 to Rs370, reached Rs400, while melons, watermelons, and cantaloupes all sold well above their fixed rates.
Summer fruits like peaches, phalsa, apricots, mangoes, cherries, and plums also showed significant discrepancies. Peaches, fixed between Rs160 and Rs250, were sold at up to Rs350, while phalsa rose from Rs300 to Rs400. Apricots, officially priced at Rs230 to Rs240, went up to Rs450 per kg.
Mangoes saw retail prices of up to Rs400 per kg despite a fixed range of Rs230 to Rs270.
Meanwhile, Punjab Price Control and Commodities Management Secretary Dr Ehsan Bhutta announced that Sahulat bazaars would be established in every Tehsil across the province from next year.
He said during a visit to a newly shifted fruits and vegetable market in Sheikhupura that essential commodities would be available at cheap rates with good quality throughout the year.
He said 13 new markets would be opened by August by the Sahulat Bazaar Authority.
The development came as the issue of shifting of the fruit and vegetable markets from Sheikhupura city areas to the newly notified location was resolved and all shops shifted.
The first auction was held and the service would continue every day in the new market. The market and municipal committees have deployed their staff to address issues faced by vendors. Police have also been deployed for security.
The secretary checked all shops, auction of different fruits and vegetables. He directed the staff to provide drinking water, security and lighting for facilitating the traders.