LAHORE:The persistent gap between government-notified prices and actual market rates widened further this week, reinforcing concerns that official price control mechanisms have lost credibility.
Despite weekly notifications showing selective reductions in vegetables and marginal adjustments in staples, consumers continued to face inflated prices across poultry, vegetables and fruits, exposing weak monitoring,poor enforcement and an increasingly dysfunctional retail pricing system.
Market observers say the problem is no longer limited to supply disruptions or seasonal volatility, but reflects a structural failure in price governance. With district administrations unable, or unwilling, to enforce official rates, retailers continue to price freely, turning government price lists into little more than symbolic documents.
As a result, households already strained by high energy bills and stagnant incomes are left with little protection against unchecked food inflation.Live chicken prices rose by Rs8 per kg to an official range of Rs397–411 per kg, but the commodity was largely unavailable at these rates.
Chicken meat followed the same pattern: despite an official increase of Rs11 to Rs595 per kg, consumers paid anywhere between Rs630 and Rs700 per kg, while boneless chicken hovered close to Rs1,000 per kg and above in many neighbourhoods. For now, the widening gap between notified and market prices underscores weak monitoring at the retail level.
A similar disconnect was visible across vegetables, where official reductions offered little real relief. Soft-skin new potatoes were fixed at Rs22–25 per kg after a Rs2 cut, yet retailers charged Rs50–70 per kg.
Tomato prices were officially reduced by Rs15 to Rs60–65 per kg, but market rates remained sharply higher, ranging from Rs100 to Rs150 per kg. Onions, meanwhile, climbed by Rs8 per kg to an official Rs55–60, while selling for as much as Rs100 per kg in some areas, adding to the pressure on kitchen staples.
Among other vegetables, local garlic prices stayed unchanged at Rs152–160 per kg, though retail rates touched Rs250 per kg. Bitter gourd, officially priced at Rs71–75 per kg after a minor increase, continued to retail at around Rs300 per kg. Spinach offered limited relief, with official rates down Rs5 to Rs18–20 per kg, though consumers paid Rs40–60.
Zucchini prices remained unchanged, with farm zucchini fixed at Rs28–30 per kg and sold at Rs60–80, while long zucchini stayed at Rs23–25 per kg but fetched Rs80. Chinese lemons increased by Rs10 to Rs65–70 per kg, yet retail prices surged to Rs150–200. Pumpkin prices were unchanged at Rs55–60 per kg but sold at more than double that rate.
Green chilies rose by Rs10 to Rs110–115 per kg and retailed at Rs150–200. Capsicum gained Rs5 to Rs90–95 per kg, selling at Rs130–150, while cauliflower and cabbage also saw increases, retailing well above official prices. Chinese carrots remained fixed at Rs162–170 per kg but sold at Rs300, while local carrots, unchanged at Rs28–30, fetched up to Rs80.
Peas fell by Rs10 to Rs57–60 per kg but sold at Rs80–100. Beetroot continued to retail at Rs250–300 per kg, coriander was available at Rs40 per bundle, and turnips, unchanged at Rs23–25 per kg, sold at Rs40–60.
Methi declined by Rs5 to Rs47–50 per kg, though market rates stayed elevated. Fruit prices also showed mixed trends. Apple rates increased by Rs5, officially fixed between Rs205 and Rs400 per kg, but sold at Rs300–600 depending on quality.
Banana prices dipped slightly to Rs135–150 per dozen, though retail prices ranged from Rs150 to Rs250. Guava prices rose to Rs129–135 per kg, dates remained unchanged at Rs415–515 per kg but sold as high as Rs2,000, and pomegranates saw notable official reductions that failed to translate fully at the retail end.
Papaya prices stayed unchanged at Rs240–250 per kg, grapefruit eased slightly, and musami prices rose by Rs10 per dozen. Sweet potato prices climbed by Rs20 to Rs105–110 per kg, while melons remained fixed officially but sold at more than double the price. Kinow prices increased again, reaching up to Rs400 per dozen in retail markets, while fruiter prices stayed unchanged officially but continued to sell significantly higher.
