Overcharging on perishable items goes unabated

LAHORE : The government has yet to update the chicken rate list which remained unchanged for the last 20 days.

The chicken meat sellers claimed that a fake rate list was being issued while the authorities concerned were not taking any action on it.

The chicken meat rate is usually updated on a daily basis on the demand and supply pattern. Surprisingly, the demand and supply of the chicken has not been changed during the last two days so the rates of all vegetables and fruits remained unchanged. Query was sent for the Deputy Commissioner version, but no response was given on the matter.

This is not the first time the fake rate of chicken meat emerged. Rather, it has become a routine every after one or two months while the government despite knowing the facts, keep the eyes close on the matter.

The issue of overcharging also remained unresolved which exposed the writ of the government and weak governance. This week again overcharging was witnessed on fruits, vegetables and meat as the meat prices were never implemented in the recent past.

The rate of the chicken in official list was fixed at Rs397-411 per kg, sold at Rs480-500 per kg, and chicken meat fixed at Rs595 per kg, and sold at Rs670-730 and chicken boneless at Rs1,000-1,100 per kg on Sunday.

The price of potato soft skin A-grade was unchanged at Rs50-55 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg, B-grade at Rs40-45 per kg and C-grade at Rs35-38 per kg, mixed sold at Rs50-70 per kg.

The price of onion A-grade declined by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs60-65 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg, B-grade at Rs50-55 per kg, and C-grade at Rs45-50 per kg, mixed sold at Rs60-70 per kg.

The price of tomato A-grade unchanged at Rs45-50 per kg, sold at Rs100-120 per kg, B-grade fixed at Rs35-40 per kg, and C-grade at Rs27-30 per kg, mixed sold at Rs60-80 per kg.

The price of garlic local new fixed at Rs300-310 per kg, sold at Rs500 per kg, Garlic GI variety reduced by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs325-340 per kg, sold at Rs400-450 per kg and Garlic China by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs600-615 per kg, sold at Rs800-1,000 per kg. The price of both Ginger Thai and Chinese increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs360-375 per kg, both sold at Rs450-600 per kg. Cucumber farm gained by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs52-55 per kg, sold at Rs80-120 per kg. Brinjal price cut by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs57-60 per kg, sold at Rs100-120 per kg.

Bitter gourd price cut by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs162-170 per kg, sold at Rs280-300 per kg. The price of Spinach gained by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs33-35, sold at Rs60-80 per kg.

Zucchini farm increased by Rs20 per kg, fixed at 47-50 per kg, sold at Rs100-120 per kg, and Zucchini long by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs33-35 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg. The lemon Chinese unchanged at Rs100-105 per kg, sold at Rs150-250 per kg. Green chili unchanged at Rs105-110 per kg, sold at Rs180-200 per kg. Capsicum price was also unchanged at Rs66-70 per kg, sold at Rs120-160 per kg. Price of cauliflower gained by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs38-40 per kg, sold at Rs60-80 per kg, cabbage by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs38-430 per kg, sold at Rs80-120 per kg.

Carrot Chinese gained by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs57-60 per kg, sold at Rs300 per kg, carrot local fixed at Rs23-25 per kg, sold at Rs40-80 per kg.

Turnip price cut by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs23-25 per kg, sold at Rs60-80 per kg. Fenugreek (Methi) increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs42-45 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg.

Pea price increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs52-55 per kg, sold at Rs80-100 per kg. Beetroot sold at Rs200-250 per kg. Coriander sold at Rs50 per bundle.

Radish price fixed at Rs23-25 per kg, sold at Rs40-60 per kg.

Lady finger price increased by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs162-170 per kg, sold at Rs300 per kg.

The price of different variety of apples fixed at Rs170-325 per kg, sold at Rs250-600 per kg.

The price of Banana A-category reduced by Rs10 per dozen, fixed at Rs250-260 per dozen, sold at Rs350-400 per dozen, and B-category fixed at Rs165-175 dozen, sold at Rs220-250 per dozen, C-grade fixed at Rs115-120 per dozen, sold at Rs180-200 per dozen.

Guava rate unchanged at Rs160-220 per kg, sold at Rs250-300 per kg.

Citrus fruit price further increased by Rs5 per dozen, fixed at Rs180-425 per dozen, sold at Rs400-700 per dozen.

Pomegranate danaydar unchanged at Rs420-440 per kg, sold at 600-800 per kg, pomegranate kandahari fixed at Rs325-465 per kg, sold at Rs600-700 per kg, pomegranate Bedana fixed at Rs730-760 per kg, sold at Rs1,000-1,200 per kg.

Dates price increased by Rs5 per kg, fixed at Rs425-480 per kg, sold at Rs750 to 2,000 per kg.

Orange price was further gained by Rs10 per dozen, fixed at Rs145-195 per dozen, sold at Rs300- 350 per dozen.

Strawberry price gained by Rs40 per kg, fixed at Rs200-465 per kg, sold at Rs350-450 per kg. Melon rate increased by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs80-150 per kg, sold at Rs150-250 per kg.