LAHORE: Profiteers at the city’s Sunday bazaars have already started benefiting from the ‘blessings’ of Ramzan. The prices of almost all items increased sharply this weekend, with some vegetables costing 100 per cent more than they did last week.
The hike was most significant in the prices of chicken, potatoes, tomatoes and onions. Market sources said that profiteers had become active ahead of the Ramzan. These profiteers, the sources said, had started hoarding the commodities known to be in high demand in Ramzan, causing the artificial hike in prices.
“The prices of chicken meat were around Rs155 to Rs160 per kg two weeks ago. Today it is available at Rs185 to Rs195 per kg,” Kamran Ali, a shopper at the Green Town Sunday Bazaar, said.
“Tomatoes, onions and potatoes are among the most consumed vegetables in the month of Ramzan but the traders have already raised their prices knowing that the people would still buy them,” he said.
The prices of tomatoes rose by more than 100 per cent. The vegetable sold at Rs70 to Rs74 per kg compared to last week’s Rs32 to Rs38 per kg.
The prices of potatoes also saw a sharp rise. These were sold at Rs44 to Rs48 per kg – Rs14 to Rs10 more than last week’s Rs30 to Rs38 per kg.
The prices of onions increased from last week’s Rs15 to Rs20 per kg to Rs23 to Rs27 per kg –nearly a 50 per cent rise.
Garlic (from China) was available at Rs178 to Rs182 per kg – Rs2 more than last week’s rate, Rs180-184 per kg. The price of ginger (from Burma) remained unchanged at Rs78 to Rs82 per kg while ginger (from China) was available at Rs133 to Rs137 per kg, Rs2 to Rs5 more than last week’s prices.
The price of spinach increased by Re1, it was sold at Rs9 to Rs11 per kg compared to last week’s rate of Rs8 to Rs10 per kg.
The prices of brinjal increased by Rs4 per kg. It was sold at Rs22 to Rs26 per kg compared to last week’s rate of Rs18 Rs22 per kg.
Cucumber (native) was available at Rs40 to Rs42 per kg, Rs2 per kg more than last week; cauliflower at Rs38 to Rs42 per kg, Rs7 to Rs8 per kg more than last week; bitter gourd at Rs36 to Rs40 per kg, Rs10 to Rs12 more than last week and okra at Rs33 to Rs37 per kg, Rs5 to Rs7 per kg more than last week.
Among the fruits, the prices of banana (B-category) increased by Rs8 per dozen. These were available at Rs28 to Rs32 per dozen compared to last week’s rate of Rs20 to Rs24 per dozen.
The price of banana (A-category) increased from last week’s Rs34 to Rs40 per dozen to Rs38 to Rs42 per dozen. However, these were not available in most Sunday bazaars.
Grapes (Sundar Khani) were available at Rs118 to Rs122 per kg, Rs20 more than last week’s rate. The prices of dates increased to Rs 83 to Rs87 per kg compared to last week’s Rs70 to Rs90 per kg.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2010.
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