Islamabad- A sudden in the prices of consumer products was reported on just as the evening marked the beginning of the month of Ramazan. The items whose prices have escalated include gram flour, potato, onions, tomato and mangoes among other products.
The reported reasons for the price hike include hoarding and overpricing by the retailers. Citizens kept complaining about the government’s failure in controlling the prices. On average, the prices of potato, onions and tomato saw an increase of Rs 10 to 20 in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad and Quetta among several other cities.
Potatoes were sold for Rs 60-80 per kilogram whereas the prices of onions were raised from Rs 30 to Rs 50 per kilogram. Tomatoes that were priced at Rs 30 to 40 per kilogram earlier are now being sold for Rs 40 to 80 per kilogram.
The gram flour which is heavily used for snacks among other items in Ramazan was earlier priced at Rs 50 to 70 per kilogram but is now being sold at Rs 60 to 80 per kilogram.
Lemon prices have been raised from Rs 80 to 120 per kilogram. The other items with effected prices include lemon, pepper, pumpkin, ladyfinger, karela (bitter gourd), and peas among other vegetables.
Consumers were also seen complaining about the substandard quality products being sold at the ‘budget Ramazan’ bazaars.