LAHORE The Sunday Bazaars once again on this Sunday became synonym to three words: overcharging, short measuring and no respect for official rates. The public apathy did not end here. The officials concerned also did not check the sleazy sellers, who cheated the poor and needy buyers at will. A saunter by this scribe to several Sunday Bazaars in the City found out that a majority of the stallholders were violating the rate lists by selling their stocks as per their own prices. Moreover, an acute shortage of the kitchen items was also observed. Insiders said that the stallholders were in the process of hoarding most of the produces to reap profits during the holy month of Ramazan (stating in Pakistan on Tuesday). At almost every Sunday Bazaar, the vendors were reluctant to bringing out the commodities due to a fear of earning less profit. Thye thought, according to the insiders, the open market rates would give them more incomes. The vendors, in the meanwhile, claimed that the Market Committee had fixed low prices for vegetables for the Sunday Bazaars while they had bought the same at higher rates. It is a wise decision not to bring them into the Sunday Bazaars, remarked one. Similarly, the shopkeepers were holding the stock of several veggies with them but refusing to offer for sale, as several customers were complaining to the officials of the City District Government about the unavailability. The stallholders were refusing to sell tomato, ladyfinger and potatoes at the Sunday bazaars subscribed rate. The visitors who went to the Shadman and Wahdat Colony Sunday Bazaars said that the shopkeepers had continued fleecing them by overcharging them. The consumers complained that most of the stallholders and handcart vendors of Sunday Bazaars were overcharging on various commodities particularly on the vegetables, violating the rate lists issued by the market committee. The citizens complained that the stallholders increased the rates more than 15 on all commodities in violation of the rate list. The District Coordination Officer least bothered to settle various problems faced by the visitors of these weekly makeshift markets where vendors looted the general public unhindered. As for as the prices are concerned there was a mixed trend in the market this Sunday, as tomato rates were reduced by Rs10 per kg and fixed at Rs 36 to 30, but no vendor was offering this particular vegetable less than for Rs50 per kg though most of them were of the lower quality. Garlic China price was fixed at Rs90 per kg but it was no where available at the fixed prices set by the govt. Garlic desi price was gained by Rs5 per kg and fixed at Rs 85 to 100 per kg. Ginger China gained by Rs 10 per kg and fixed at Rs 90 to 100 per kg and sold at Rs 120 per kg. The price of potato was stable as compared to the last Sunday rate at Rs18 to 24 but it was selling for Rs30 openly without any fear. The price of onion was also increased by Re1 per kg and fixed at Rs15 to 20 per kg. Spinach desi price fixed at Rs 12 to 14 per kg but it was missing there. However, just outside the bazaar, vendors were selling spinach at Rs20 per kg. Brinjal price was reduced by Rs 5 per kg and fixed at Rs 8 to 10 per kg but also not sold in Sunday bazaars. Cucumber price was fixed at Rs20 to 30 per kg form Rs 16 to 25 per kg and sold upto Rs 25 per kg. Cabbage price was fixed at Rs 30 to 40 per kg with an increase of Rs 4 per kg and not seen there while Cauliflower price fixed at Rs 30 to 40 per kg and rotten was sold at Rs25 to 35 per kg. Bitter gourd price was fixed at Rs 25 to 30 per kg with a decline of Rs 10 to 20 per kg from Rs 35 to 45 per kg and sold at Rs50 per kg. Pumpkin price was also downed by Rs 10 per kg and fixed at Rs 10 to 15 per kg from Rs 20 to 15 per kg. Peas price was further increased by Rs 9 to 8 per kg and fixed at Rs90 to 100 per kg from Rs80 to 90 per kg but not available in bazaar. Capsicum rates were Rs50 to 60 per kg but it was not available. Green chili price was fixed at Rs25 to 30 per kg from Rs 40 to 55 per kg but missing in Sunday bazaars and just outside sold at Rs50 per kg.