No let-up in overcharging at Sunday bazaars

LAHORE: Overcharging along with increasing trend in the rates of all vegetables was witnessed this week while hardly any A-category fruits and vegetables were sold in the weekly makeshift markets of the city.

The increasing trend in the rates of essential items recorded for the last two weeks which was expected to grow further in wake of any controlling and management mechanism at the government level to stop overcharging. Seasonal change is also another factor of increase in the prices of seasonal vegetables as supplies of both winter and summer seasons vegetables reduced during this time. However, increase in onion rates was unexpected and the sellers anticipating storages of it by the stockiest to make money during Ramazan.

Likewise past weeks, this week again majority of seasonal vegetables were not sold in the makeshift markets because their rates were increased. The vendors claimed that the official rate list was faulty as their buying price was much higher than the rates issued by the market committee in the list.

This week again number of vegetables, including, ladyfinger, pumpkin, radish, green chili, garlic, bitter gourd, and other vegetables were not sold due to wrong pricing. Rotten vegetables and fruits were sold at A-grade rates while A-grade items were not sold in any of the makeshift markets of the city.

This week price of potato was reduced by Re one per kg, fixed at Rs7 to 9 per kg, sold at Rs10 per kg, while in open markets it was still selling at Rs15 to 20 per kg. Onion rates were reduced by Rs20 per kg, Rs26 to 28 per kg for A-category, and Rs19 to 21 per kg for B-category while B-category was sold at Rs28 per kg. The price of tomato also declined by Rs32 per kg, fixed at Rs76 to 80 per kg, mixed sold at Rs80 per kg.

Garlic local was fixed at Rs107 to 112 per kg, not available, garlic Chinese was fixed at Rs155 to 162 per kg, sold at Rs180 to 200 per kg. Ginger Chinese stable at Rs155 to 162 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg, garlic Thai fixed at Rs126 to 132 per kg, sold at Rs160 per kg. Brinjal was unchanged at Rs49 to 51 per kg, mixed quality was sold at Rs50 per kg.

Cucumber farm was reduced by Rs19 per kg, fixed at Rs29 to 31 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg. Mongray was gained by Rs11 per kg, fixed at Rs59 to 62 per kg, not sold on wrong pricing issue. Bitter gourd was increased by Rs6 per kg, fixed at Rs131 to 138 per kg, not available on pricing issue. Spinach was fixed at Rs14 to 16 per kg, while sold at Rs20 per kg. Lemon Chinese was fixed at Rs49 to 51 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. Methi price was increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs44 to 46 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg.

Zucchini long gained by Rs8 per kg, fixed at Rs39 to 41 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg, Zucchini farm increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs54 to 56 per kg, both sold at Rs60 per kg.

Cauliflower was increased by Rs8 per kg, fixed at Rs37 to 39 per kg, sold at Rs50 per kg, cabbage was stable at Rs17 to 19 per kg, sold at Rs20 per kg. Pumpkin was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs64 to 67 per kg, sold at Rs70 to per kg, and pumpkin long was sold at Rs80 to 100 per kg. Turnip was increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs19 to 21 per kg.

Green chili gained by Rs11 per kg, fixed at Rs193 to 203 to per kg, not sold there due to pricing issue, while outside sold at Rs400 per kg. Capsicum was increased by Rs22 fixed at Rs92 to 97 per kg, lower quality was sold at Rs100 per kg. Pea was increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs41 to 46 per kg, rain-hit sold at Rs50 per kg. Radish was increased by Re one per kg, fixed at Rs12 to 14 per kg, sold at Rs30 per kg.

Carrot was increased by Re one per kg, fixed at Rs15 to 17 per kg. Mustard leave was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs29 to 31 per kg. Coriander was fixed at Rs40 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg. Beans were sold at Rs200 per kg while no rates were fixed. The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs68 to 132 per kg, sold at Rs100 to 180 per kg.

Banana A- category gained by Rs5 per dozen, fixed at Rs73 to 77 per dozen, B-category was fixed at Rs49 to 51 per dozen, while B-category was sold at Rs75 to 80 per dozen. Musami was fixed at Rs97 to 102 per dozen, sold at Rs150 per dozen.

Different varieties of citrus fruit were fixed at Rs68 to 128 per dozen, sold at Rs80 to 180 per dozen. Sweet potato was fixed at Rs34 to 36 per kg, not sold on pricing issue. Guava was gained by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs54 to 56 per kg, sold at Rs60 per kg. Grape fruit was fixed at Rs14 to 16 per piece, sold at Rs15 to 20 per piece. Papaya was fixed at Rs92 to 97 per kg, sold at Rs100 per kg. Coconut whole was fixed at Rs131 to 138 per piece, sold at Rs150 per piece.

Strawberry special quality was fixed at Rs145 to 152 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg, and B-quality fixed at Rs68 to 72 per kg, sold at Rs120 to 150 per kg. Dates were fixed at Rs141 to 149 per kg, sold at Rs300 to 500 per kg.

Melon A-category was fixed at Rs68 to 72 per kg, B-category at Rs49 to 51 per kg while it sold at Rs70 per kg.