Govt price lists fail to rein in runaway market rates

Compliance gap in markets widens

LAHORE:

Consumers in the provincial capital continued to face mounting pressure this week as a wide gap persisted between officially notified prices and market rates for most essential food items, deepening the strain on household budgets.

Despite marginal reductions in official prices for selected commodities, retailers across Lahore largely ignored government rate lists, selling goods at significantly higher prices.

With purchasing power already eroded by high electricity and gas tariffs, transport costs and broader inflationary pressures, even small increases in vegetables, fruits and poultry have begun to weigh heavily on consumers.

Chicken prices offered little relief. Although the official price of live chicken was reduced by Rs20 per kilogram to Rs304-318, it remained unavailable at those rates in most areas. Chicken meat, officially fixed at Rs461 per kg after a Rs29 cut, was sold between Rs550 and Rs600, while boneless chicken continued to command between Rs800 and Rs1,000.

Vegetable prices showed similar discrepancies. New soft-skin potatoes were officially priced at Rs40-45 after a Rs15 reduction, but retailed at Rs70-100. Onion prices rose slightly to Rs97-105 but were sold at Rs120-140, while tomatoes remained unchanged at Rs55-60 yet fetched Rs80-120 in markets.

Garlic prices stayed elevated across all varieties. Locally produced garlic, officially fixed at Rs142-150, sold at Rs200-250, while harani garlic remained priced at Rs285-300 but retailed at around Rs400. Chinese garlic rose to Rs420-440 and was sold at Rs600 per kg.

Ginger prices climbed sharply, with both Thai and Chinese varieties retailing between Rs400 and Rs500 despite lower official rates.

Seasonal vegetables offered little relief. Farm cucumbers, brinjal, bitter gourd and zucchini all sold at prices well above official notifications. Fruit prices remained volatile. Apples were officially fixed between Rs200 and Rs395 per kg but sold at up to Rs600.

Bananas, guavas and grapes of various varieties all recorded large gaps between official and retail rates.