Official food price reductions prove ineffective

Poultry mostly unavailable at official rates

LAHORE:

Despite weekly notifications showing reduction of the prices of some vegetables and marginal adjustments in staples, consumers continued to face inflated prices for poultry, fruits and most vegetables, highlighting a largely dysfunctional retail pricing system.

Market observers say the issue extends beyond supply disruptions or seasonal volatility to a failure in price governance. Retailers continued to set prices freely, rendering government price lists ineffective. As a result, households already strained by high energy costs and stagnant incomes remain exposed to food inflation.

Live chicken prices rose by Rs8 per kilogramme to an official range of Rs397-411 per kg, yet the commodity was largely unavailable at these rates. Chicken meat followed a similar pattern: despite an official increase of Rs11 to Rs595 per kg, retail prices ranged from Rs640 to Rs720 per kg, while boneless chicken hovered near Rs1,000 per kg.

A similar disconnect was evident across vegetables, where official reductions offered little tangible relief. Soft-skin new potatoes were fixed at Rs22-25 per kg after a Rs2 cut, but retailers charged between Rs50 and Rs70 per kg.

Tomato prices were officially reduced by Rs15 to Rs60-65 per kg, yet market rates remained sharply higher at Rs100-150 per kg.

Onion prices increased by Rs8 per kg to Rs55-60, while retail prices climbed to as much as Rs100 per kg in several localities.

Among other vegetables, local garlic remained officially priced at Rs152-160 per kg but sold for up to Rs250 per kg.

Harnai garlic fell by Rs20 to Rs285-300 per kg, yet continued to retail near Rs400, while Chinese garlic stayed fixed at Rs435-455 per kg and sold at around Rs600.

Prices of both Thai and Chinese ginger declined by Rs15 to Rs275-305 per kg, though retail rates ranged between Rs400 and Rs450.

Spinach provided limited relief, with official rates reduced to Rs18-20 per kg, though consumers paid Rs40-60.

Mustard leaves saw a modest increase and retailed at Rs50-60 per kg.

Fruit prices showed similarly mixed trends.

Apple prices rose by Rs5 per kg to an official range of Rs205-400, but retail rates stretched from Rs300 to Rs600 depending on quality. Banana prices dipped slightly to Rs135-150 per dozen, though consumers paid Rs150-250.

Guava prices rose to Rs129-135 per kg.

Pomegranate prices saw official reductions that failed to fully translate in markets, while kinnow prices climbed, reaching up to Rs400 per dozen.