Pakistan: Onion, potato rates coming down
Supply of fresh crop has also reduced the difference of open market and Sunday Bazaars rates of vegetable as well as fruits because their rates of Sunday bazaars are almost the same as in the open market.
Onions were sold for Rs20-25 per kilogram in Sunday bazaars while their price was Rs25 per kilogram in the open market.
The prices of lady finger, bitter gourd, potato, tomato, cucumber, cauliflower and onion were almost the same in both Sunday bazaars and the open market. Similarly, tomatoes were available for Rs45-50 per kilogram in both Sunday bazaars and the open market.
This puts a big question mark on the performance of the government, which had set up these makeshift markets with a view to providing relief to the public. A visit to the Sunday bazaar revealed that the prices of most fruits and vegetables were the same as in the open market; and even if some items were cheaper, their quality was questionable. Though a few products were available in Sunday bazaars at cheaper rates than in the open market, the majority of commodities were actually being sold at higher prices there.
This Sunday, cabbage prices were fixed at Rs30 per kg but it was being sold at Rs20 per kg outside Sunday Bazaars, while the price of cauliflower was fixed at Rs40 and being sold at Rs45 per kg. Turnip was fixed at Rs 50 per kg, carrot local at Rs 42 per kg, and Chinese carrot at Rs 73 per kg, and radish at Rs40 per kg. Chinese lemons were fixed at Rs60 per kg but was offered by venders at Rs80 per kg.
Potato prices were further reduced and fixed at Rs40-50 per kg, and the price of onions also went down by Rs 5 per kg, fixed at Rs 22 per kg. Prices of Green chilli were fixed at Rs60 per kg but sold at Rs65 per kg.
Some products such as ginger and garlic were available at lower prices in Sunday bazaars as compared with the open market. It was also observed that the vendors did not allow the buyers to sort out and pick fruits and vegetables of their choice.
Source: nation.com.pk