LAHORE:The district administration has failed to enforce officially notified prices of essential commodities as Ramazan continues, with widespread violations and overcharging reported across Lahore.
Despite the issuance of rate lists for fruits, vegetables and other perishables, consumers say market prices remain significantly higher than the government’s prescribed levels. In several localities, vendors were openly charging beyond the official rates, with little visible enforcement on the ground.
The situation has aggravated by a pre-Ramazan surge in fruit prices, which began days before the holy month and has yet to stabilise. Residents complain that the spike has gone largely unchecked, leaving households to absorb the additional burden during a period traditionally marked by increased spending on food items.
Critics argue that the district administration appears more focused on optics than enforcement. Officials have intensified visits to Sahulat Bazaars — government-facilitated markets — but these markets are already managed by an independent authority across the province. Meanwhile, regular open markets, where the majority of citizens’ shop, continue to witness unchecked overpricing. In the past, special Ramazan Bazaars were established across Punjab to provide subsidised commodities and ease pressure on open markets. The initiative was discontinued during the PTI government and has not been revived since.
For now, consumers remain at the mercy of market forces, with calls growing for stricter monitoring, meaningful penalties for violators and a broader enforcement strategy beyond selective inspections. As Ramazan progresses, the gap between official price lists and market realities continues to widen.
This week, live chicken prices were reduced by Rs415 per kg on the official list and fixed at Rs294–308 per kg, yet the commodity was largely unavailable at these prices across the localities. Chicken meat followed the same trajectory: despite a Rs22 per kg cut to an official rate of Rs446 per kg, consumers paid between Rs480 and Rs530 per kg, while boneless chicken continued to sell at exceptionally high rates, hovering close to Rs800 per kg and above in many neighbourhoods.
Vegetable markets reflected a similar disconnect between official rates and selling prices. Soft-skin new potatoes were officially fixed at Rs18–20 per kg with a reduction of Rs2 per kg, but retailers charged Rs30–40 per kg.
Tomato prices fixed at Rs72–80 with a Rs10 per kg reduction, but market rates remained sharply higher, ranging from Rs120 to Rs160 per kg. Onion prices were downed by Rs2 per kg, fixed at Rs54–58, though they continued to sell between Rs70 and Rs80 per kg.
Local garlic prices unchanged at Rs210–220 per kg, but retailed at Rs280–300 per kg. Chinese garlic stable at Rs505–530 per kg and retailed near Rs600-700 per kg.
Fruit prices showed mixed trends. Apple prices were officially fixed between Rs250 and Rs420 per kg, but sold at Rs350–600 depending on quality.
Banana A-category price was surged to Rs207–230 per dozen, though retail prices ranged from Rs300 to Rs350 per dozen and B-category rate at Rs125-140 per dozen, sold at Rs200-250 per dozen.
Guava prices fixed Rs138–145, selling between Rs250 and Rs300 per kg. Dates prices were fixed at Rs410–495, but ranged Rs800to Rs2,200 per kg.Musami prices fixed at Rs172–180 per dozen but sold at Rs250–300 per dozen.
Kinow prices were fixed between Rs220 and Rs335 per dozen, but retailed at Rs350–500 per dozen.Kandhari pomegranates were fixed at Rs601–630 per kg and sold at around Rs800-1000 per kg, while danedar pomegranates were fixed at Rs772–810 per kg but retailed between Rs1,200 and Rs1,400 per kg.
