LAHORE:The disconnect between official price lists and actual market rates persisted this week, with consumers continuing to bear the brunt of weak enforcement across the City. While some items saw minor adjustments in official prices, retail rates remained significantly higher, reflecting a market largely operating beyond regulatory control.
The unchanged price of chicken over the past ten days has raised serious questions about the credibility of the price fixation mechanism, as market dynamics for perishable items rarely remain static for such an extended period. Industry observers note that fluctuations in demand and supply are a daily occurrence in the poultry sector, making prolonged price stability highly unlikely. This is not an isolated instance; in the past, chicken rates have reportedly remained artificially fixed for over a month, fuelling concerns of possible manipulation. The stagnation in official pricing also creates space for retailers to bypass rate lists with ease, while the district administration appears to have turned a blind eye to the issue, further weakening enforcement.
Live chicken was fixed at Rs397–411 per kg and remained largely unsold across the city, while chicken meat stayed at Rs595 per kg officially but sold between Rs660 and Rs710 per kg. Boneless chicken continued to fetch steep rates, hovering around Rs1,100 per kg and above in several neighbourhoods.
Vegetable prices showed mixed trends but remained elevated in retail markets. Soft-skin new potatoes price increased by Rs2 per kg to Rs20–22 per kg, yet sold at Rs30–40 per kg. Tomatoes rose by Rs5 per kg to Rs80–85 per kg, while retail prices ranged between Rs120 and Rs160 per kg. Onion prices declined by Rs8 per kg to Rs57–62 per kg but continued to sell between Rs72 and Rs100 per kg.
Among essentials, local garlic prices dropped to Rs137–145 per kg but retailed at Rs200–220 per kg. Chinese garlic saw a sharp increase of Rs50 per kg to Rs525–550 per kg and sold at Rs800. Thai ginger remained unchanged at Rs272–285 per kg but sold at Rs400–450 per kg.
Ladyfinger prices fell to Rs172–180 per kg but retailed at Rs250–300 per kg. Green chilies remained unchanged at Rs100–105 per kg yet sold at Rs150–200 per kg, while capsicum declined to Rs62–65 per kg but fetched Rs120–150 per kg.
Fruit prices also remained high. Apples were fixed between Rs290 and Rs450 per kg but sold at Rs400–800 per kg. Banana prices continued to exceed official rates, while guava rose slightly and sold up to Rs300 per kg. Dates remained among the costliest items, selling between Rs800 and Rs2,200 per kg despite lower official rates.
