LAHORE:
Rising prices of perishable food items across Punjab have triggered frustration, as consumers continue to pay well above officially fixed rates for basic commodities despite the formation of new price control mechanisms.
This week, the prices of essential vegetables and poultry products remained significantly above government-sanctioned rates in local markets. The persistent violation of official price lists calls into question the utility of the newly established mechanisms.
In poultry markets, discrepancies between official rates and charged prices remained stark. The official rate for live chicken was reduced by Rs15, bringing it to Rs374-388 per kg, yet consumers reported paying between up to Rs480 per kilogramme. Similarly, chicken meat was officially priced at Rs562 per kilogramme but sold for Rs570-640, while boneless chicken reached as high as Rs1,200.
Vegetables also showed alarming price gaps. A-grade soft-skin potatoes were fixed at Rs80-85 but sold at Rs140-150 per kg. Onion prices officially stood at Rs50-55 per kg A-grade quality, yet they reached up to Rs100 in the market. Tomatoes were set at Rs82-90 per kilogramme, but prices surged to Rs150.
Garlic and ginger were among the most overpriced items, with garlic varieties retailing for up to Rs400 per kg against official rates of Rs210-260. Ginger was sold for Rs600-700 per kg, far exceeding the fixed rates of Rs400-460.
Other vegetables, such as cucumber (Rs200/kg), brinjal (Rs150), bitter gourd (Rs220) and ladyfinger (Rs240), also saw steep markups. Spinach, pumpkin, zucchini, lemon, and arum followed a similar pattern, exceeding official prices by Rs30-100 per kilogramme.
Fruits were no exception. Apples, priced officially at Rs145-265 per kg, sold for as much as Rs350. Banana prices saw a jump of Rs50-90 above the fixed rates depending on grade, while guava and papaya either exceeded limits or were not available. Grapes and mangoes, despite minor adjustments in official pricing, were sold at significantly inflated rates, with some varieties reaching Rs500 per kg.
Even middle-income consumers found basic fruits such as melon, dates, and peaches unaffordable. Dates were officially priced at Rs460-490 per kg but seen in markets at rates as high as Rs2,000.
