LAHORE:As Ramazan nears its end, the government’s drive to enforce official price lists in open markets appears to have delivered little tangible relief for consumers in the provincial capital.
Across Lahore, widespread violations of notified rates continue, exposing weaknesses in the price control system and leaving residents at the mercy of the traders.Despite repeated claims of enforcement, the gap between official rates and actual market prices remains significant. Surveys in various neighbourhood markets show that many essential commodities are rarely available at the prices fixed by authorities.
Critics argue that concentrating efforts on these bazaars does little to address the far larger challenge of enforcing prices across the city’s open markets, where most residents purchase their daily groceries.
Officialshighlighted visits to Sahulat Ramazan Bazaars as evidence of action. Observers say that regulating these facilities could often be handled administratively, while the real test lies in controlling prices in thousands of private retail outlets.
Meanwhile, open markets continue to witness routine violations of official rates. This week, live chicken prices increased by Rs10 per kg on the official list and were fixed at Rs339–353 per kg. However, the commodity was largely unavailable at these rates across many localities. Chicken meat followed the same trajectory, gaining Rs14 per kg to reach an official price of Rs511 per kg, while consumers paid between Rs560 and Rs630 per kg. Boneless chicken continued to sell at significantly higher rates, hovering around Rs950 per kg and above in several neighbourhoods.
Soft-skin new potatoes were officially fixed at Rs18–20 per kg but sold at Rs30–40 per kg. Tomatoes price also unchanged at Rs60–65 per kg, yet retail prices ranged from Rs120 to Rs160 per kg. Onion prices were increased by Rs8 one per kg to Rs55–60 per kg, though they continued to sell between Rs80 and Rs120 per kg. Ladyfinger price increased by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs210–220 per kg but sold at Rs350–400 per kg.
Fruit prices showed mixed trends. Apples were officially fixed between Rs250 and Rs420 per kg but sold at Rs350–700 per kg depending on quality. Banana A-category fixed at Rs215–240 per dozen, yet retail rates ranged from Rs300 to Rs350 per dozen. B-category bananas were fixed at Rs125–140 per dozen but sold at Rs200–250 per dozen.
Guava prices were unchanged at Rs138–145 per kg and sold between Rs250 and Rs300 per kg. Dates were fixed at Rs375–480 per kg but retailed between Rs800 and Rs2,200 per kg.
