Brisk business at Sunday bazaars despite overcharging

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Brisk business at Sunday bazaars despite overcharging



Monday, February 02, 2009
By Jawwad Rizvi

LAHORE

HEALTHY business activities were recorded at Sunday bazaars this week as the salaried class had made good buying of kitchen items with the start of month.

Shortage of onions had seen this week in almost every Sunday bazaar of the city, as the vendors were reluctant to bring it out due to difference in Sunday bazaars and Mandi rates. They vendors said the market committee officials deputed at the Sunday bazaars fixed low price of onions while they bought it from Mandi at higher rates. Thus, it is a wise decision not to bring onion into the bazaars, they remarked.

The News had conducted a survey of various Sunday bazaars of the city which found overcharging right under the nose of the government officials in almost every bazaar. District coordination officer also conducted a visit of the Shadman Sunday bazaar just for a photo session. He had not asked any shoppers and vendors regarding the services of the government being provided in the Sunday bazaar. This correspondent was also there when the DCO visited the Shadman Sunday bazaar. The vendors were selling carrots for more then fixed price at that time while the DCO just get report from the deputed staff. After a short visit, he left the bazaar. Soon after the visit of the DCO, the TMO of Data Gunj Bakhsh Town had also skipped from the bazaar and was not seen again until evening.

Similarly, the situation of other Sunday bazaars was not improved this time again. In Shalimar Sunday bazaar, no senior official was available in afternoon. The situation of Taj Pura, Green Town and Shahdara Sunday bazaars remained pathetic. The vendors were selling lower quality and rotten fruits and vegetables at higher rates.

The fixing the price of every fruit and vegetable at higher rates in Sunday bazaars is out of a common man’s sense. It seems the vendors showed good quality fruits and vegetables at time of price fixation and latter sold lower quality items at higher price or the government officials are unable to decide the quality of fruits and vegetables. Official revision of price lists has never seen in Sunday bazaars. Meanwhile, after surge in open market sugar rates, the city district government Lahore had also increased its prices in Sunday bazaar by Rs five per kilogram fixing at Rs 41 per kilogram from previous week rate of Rs 36 per kilogram. Similarly, the price of Daal Masoor gained by Rs three per kilogram and was fixed at Rs 113 per kilogram from Rs 110 per kilogram. Lentil rate had gained by Rs four per kilogram and was fixed at Rs 70 per kg from Rs 66 per kg.

The price of potatoes was fixed at Rs eight to Rs 10 per kg and it sold at Rs 10 per kg. The price of onions was fixed at Rs 14 to Rs 19 per kilogram and in Shadman; it had sold at Rs 18 per kilogram and in other Sunday bazaars at Rs 19 per kg. However, vendors sold lower grade onions a A-grade and charged the price for the same.

Tomatoes were sold at Rs 22 per kg while its price was fixed at Rs 15 to Rs 22 per kg.

Chinese garlic’s price was fixed at Rs 27 to Rs 30 per kg and it sold at Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg while the desi garlic’s price was foxed at Rs 30 to Rs 34 per kg and it sold at Rs 40 per kg.

The price of Thai ginger was fixed at Rs 42 to Rs 46 per kg and sold at Rs 50 per kg while Chinese ginger’s price was fixed at Rs 47 to Rs 52 per kg and sold at Rs 60 per kg. The price of spinach was fixed at Rs three to Rs four per kg and it sold at Rs five per kg while desi spinach’s price was fixed at Rs five to Rs six per kg and it sold at Rs eight per kg. Brinjal was sold at Rs 16 per kg while its price was fixed at Rs 12 to Rs 16 per kg. Last week, its price was at Rs nine per kg. Cucumber was sold at Rs 26 per kg while its rate was fixed at Rs 22 to Rs 26 per kg. Cabbage’s price was fixed at Rs seven to Rs eight per kg and it sold at Rs eight per kg while cauliflower’s price was Rs five to Rs seven per kg and it sold at Rs seven to Rs eight per kg. Pumpkin was sold at Rs 26 per kg as compared to its price of Rs 22 to Rs 26 per kg. The price of turnips was fixed at Rs four to Rs five per kg and it sold at Rs eight to Rs 10 per kg. Radishes had sold at Rs six to Rs eight per kg from it price of Rs four to Rs five per kg, carrots were sold at Rs seven to Rs eight per kg from its price of Rs four to Rs six per kg. Peas’ price was fixed at Rs 18 to Rs 22 per kg and it sold at Rs 22 per kg. Capsicums’ price was fixed at Rs 42 to Rs 48 per kg from the last week’s price of Rs 40 per kg and it sold at Rs 48 per kg. Green chillies’ had sold at Rs 38 per kg as compared to its fixed price of Rs 32 to Rs 38 per kg. Coriander bundles were sold at Rs five each compared to its price of Rs three to Rs four per bundle. The price of different variety of apples was fixed at Rs 20 to Rs 65 per kg and average price in Sunday bazaar was Rs 35 to Rs 65 per kg. Guavas’ price was fixed at Rs 22 to Rs 32 per kg but it sold at Rs 32 per kg. The price of different varieties of oranges was fixed at Rs 38 to Rs 70 per dozen but average price in Sunday bazaar was Rs 45 to Rs 65 per dozen. Grapefruits’ price was fixed at Rs five to Rs seven per piece but it was missing from most of the Sunday bazaars. The price of bananas was fixed at Rs 12 to Rs 30 per dozen while it sold Rs 30 per dozen.

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