Govt yet to enforce price control measures

LAHORE:All the price controlling measures, including price magistrates’ fines are so far proving ineffective as the district admin completely failed to stop the overcharging in the provincial metropolis, but effectively showing the performance to the chief minister on social media.

The provincial government also seems to least interested in controlling the inflation and artificial price hike in the province alongside the provincial metropolis where none of the edible items ranging from the pulses, grains, milk, meat fruits and vegetables sold at official rates.

The government has created Punjab Price Control and Commodities Management Department and also appointed a chairperson at Chief Minister Price Control Task Force Punjab, and seems to believe that these steps are sufficient to stop overcharging and implement rate lists. However, both steps are yet to deliver any fruitful results to the general public in the form of getting relief from overcharging.

This week again a mixed trend in the prices of perishable was recorded as majority of vegetables rates are further increased alongside seasonal fruits too. Further, non-implementation of the official rates list added to the buyers’ woes which also reflects the non-seriousness of the elected representatives towards the basic pubic problems.

The price of chicken remained unchanged for fourth consecutive week and fixed at Rs397-411 per kg, sold at Rs460-480 per kg and chicken meat fixed at Rs595 per kg, and sold at Rs670-1,000 per kg. The price of potato sugar-free A-grade reduced by Re one per kg, fixed at Rs76-82 per kg, sold at Rs140-150 per kg, B-grade at Rs65-70 per kg, and C-grade at Rs55-60 per kilogram, mixed sold at Rs100-120 per kg.

The price of onion A-grade further declined by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs117-125 per kg, sold at Rs160-170 kg, B-grade by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs104-110 per kg, and C-grade by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs95-100 per kg, mixed sold at Rs130-140 per kg.

The price of tomato A-grade increased by Rs18 per kg, fixed at Rs102-110 per kg, sold at Rs160-180 per kg, B-grade by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs85-90 per kg, and C-grade at Rs75-80 kg, mixed sold at Rs120–140 per kg.

The price of garlic local increased by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs390-410 per kg, sold at Rs500-600 per kg, Garlic Harnai by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs415-435 per kg, sold at Rs600 per kg, Garlic GI variety reduced by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs240-250 per kg, sold at Rs350-400 per kg and Garlic China by Rs25 per kg, fixed at Rs555-575 per kg, sold at Rs800-1,000 per kg.

The price of Ginger Thai declined by Rs200 per kg, fixed at Rs730-750 per kg, and Ginger Chinese by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs730-750 per kg, both sold at Rs1,000 per kg. Cucumber Farm unchanged at Rs86-90 per kg, sold at Rs140-150 per kg, and cucumber local at Rs95-100 per kg, sold at Rs200-220 per kg.

Brinjal price was further gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs86-90 per kg, sold at Rs100-120 per kg. Bitter gourd reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs135-140 per kg, sold at Rs200-240 per kg.

The price of Spinach declined by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs47-50, sold at Rs80-100 per kg. Zucchini local price declined by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs115-120 per kg, not sold, zucchini farm was fixed at 125-130 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg, and zucchini long was fixed at Rs105-110 per kg, sold at Rs200 per kg.

The lemon Chinese was further reduced by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs85-90 per kg, sold at Rs200-300 per kg. Ladyfinger price increased by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs105-110 per kg, sold at Rs180-200 per kg.

Turnip price surged by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs115-120 per kg, sold at Rs160-180 per kg. Fenugreek (Methi) declined by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs115-120 per kg, sold at Rs200-220 per kg. Pea price gained by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs300-310 per kg, sold at Rs400 per kg.

Beans was fixed at Rs95-130 per kg, sold at Rs250-400 per kg. Radish was fixed at Rs28-30 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg. The price of different variety of apples fixed at Rs85-230 per kg, sold at Rs150-400 per kg.

The price of Banana A-category gained by Rs5 per dozen, fixed at Rs125-130 per dozen, sold at Rs180-200 per dozen, and B-category reduced by Rs15 per dozen, fixed Rs70-75 per dozen, sold at Rs130-150 per dozen, and C-category fixed at Rs60-64 per dozen, sold at Rs80-120 per dozen.

Pomegranate desi was declined by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs245-255 per kg, sold at Rs300-350 per kg, pomegranate kandahari surged by Rs60 per kg, fixed at Rs285-295 per kg, sold at Rs320-400, pomegranate Bedana increased by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs425-445 per kg, sold at Rs800-1,000 per kg.

Grapes Sunderkhani surged by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs300-310 per kg, sold at Rs400-500 per kg, grapes gola reduced by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs162-170 per kg, sold at Rs250-300 per kg, grapes tofi gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs285-295. Sold at Rs400-500 per kg. Guava was fixed at Rs115-160 per kg, sold at Rs250-300 per kg.