LAHORE -  Majority of vegetables prices remained stable with some veggie items rates showing upward trend as compared to the last week in Sunday Bazaars due to supply reasons.
The government of Punjab has set up Sunday bazaars and special Sahulat bazaars to control inflation in the province but it has failed to do so, as majority of the rates of kitchen items including vegetables, are almost same with the prices of open market and some items have difference of just Rs3-5 with open market. However, the poultry is the only item which was available at a high concession as compared to open market.
Most of the vegetables rates were stable while some items registered raise despite abundant supply as tomato rate was up and fixed at Rs25 per kg from earlier rate of Rs17 per kg. Likewise cauliflower rate was up to Rs40 per kg from earlier rate of Rs30 per kg while peas rates went up Rs80 per kg from last rate of Rs60 per kg. This week in the Sunday bazaars, price of potato was fixed at Rs47 per kg and A-grade potato was sold at Rs55per kg while onion rate was raised by Rs4 per kg, tomato price was increased by Rs7 per kg. Carrot price was raised to Rs15 per kg and turnip rate was fixed at Rs22 per kg and sold at Rs35 per kg. Ginger, Thailand, rate was increased by Rs10 per kg and fixed at Rs206 and ginger India, at Rs 158 to 162 per kg.
The Punjab government has organized the special makeshift Sastay bazaars across the province to control the price hike of vegetables and fruits. However, the efforts of the government have proved futile due to its artificial steps to control the inflation.
If the government will make efforts to reduce the involvement of the middlemen in supply of the perishable items from farm to market, the inflation can be controlled in a better way. The government can also reduce the prices by ensuring provision of subsidy to the farmers.
The vendors said that the government instead of controlling the middlemen mafia involved in the supply chain network of the perishable items has been trying to control the inflation through makeshift markets.