Ramazan package subsidies arrive at city’s Sunday Bazaars

10 kg flour bags were sold at the Sunday Bazaars for Rs 200 each while prices of vegetables and fruits soared.

The Punjab government had provided subsidised flour as part of its Ramazan package under which, 10kg and 20kg flour bags will be sold for Rs200 and Rs400 respectively.

60,000 flour bags were provided for the purpose this week to Sunday Bazaars at Shadman, Wapda Town, Green Town, Wahdat Road and Shalimar among others.

Flour prices in the open market currently range between Rs26 to Rs28 per kg. A 20 kg bag is being sold for Rs510-Rs530.

Around 5,000 flour bags sent to Sunday Bazaars in Green Town and Wapda Town were sold quickly causing a shortfall as no bags were available to those coming later.

The prices of potatoes varied between Rs46 and Rs50 per kg compared to Rs44-Rs48 per kg last week.

Prices of cold stored potatoes went up by Rs3 from last week to Rs21.

Onions were sold at different bazaars for Rs24 to Rs27, depending on quality. They were priced at Rs23 per kg last Sunday.

Meanwhile price of tomatoes plummeted from Rs70 – Rs74 last week to Rs56 – Rs62 this week.

Prices of garlic (from China) went up by Rs5 per kg as it was sold for Rs183-Rs187 per kg. Prices of ginger (from Burma) were fixed at Rs78 to Rs82 per kg.

Ginger (from China) was sold for Rs160-Rs164 per kg. Spinach was sold for Rs9-Rs11 per kg same as last week. Cucumber soared by Rs8 and was sold for Rs48-Rs52 per kg. Cauliflower was sold at prices ranging between Rs33 and Rs37.

Bitter gourd went up by Rs12 per kg and was sold for Rs48 to Rs52 per kg.

The prices of okra rocketed by Rs7 per kg from Rs33 to Rs37 to R 40 to Rs44.Category-B bananas were sold for Rs26 to Rs42. Apples were sold for Rs50-Rs95 per kg. Mangoes were sold at Rs30 to Rs70 per kg while dates were sold for Rs80 to Rs110 per kg.

Grapes sold at Rs125-Rs135 per kg with an increase of Rs15 per kg last week. Chicken prices ranged between Rs177 and Rs185 per kg.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2010.