LAHORE - Following a record surge in the oil prices, the rates of vegetables and fruit shot up in Sunday Bazaars as compared to the last week due to what the market sources said increase in the transportation cost. The incidents of scuffle also took place in some Sunday Bazaars over the selling of substandard food items on high rates, as the city district government badly failed to control the prices of vegetables and fruit. In Gulshan-e-Ravi Sunday Bazaar, severe clash took place between two groups. The TMO concerned reached the spot and ordered the closure of Sunday Bazaars, multiplying the problems of the shoppers who reached there to buy food items on cheap rates. The vendors were witnessed selling substandard vegetables on high prices while tomato was not available in most of the Sunday bazaars. Chicken was sold at Rs 123 to Rs 125 in the Sunday Bazaars while in the open market it was being sold at Rs 120, thanks to the poor control of the authorities concerned. However, there was great rush witnessed in all the Sunday bazaar as the salaried class rushed to these bazaars to buy essential commodities and other food items in the first week of the new month. The flour bags were sold like hot cakes in the Sunday bazaars, following confusion over the rates of flour. The shoppers, expecting further increase in the flour prices, were buying more flour bags than their one months needs as the 20-kg flour bag was available at Rs 365 in these bazaars. There was no official of the City District Government to check the sale substandard meat in Sunday bazaars as the butchers were witnessed selling adulterated (mixing water) mutton and beef. They also sold the lowest quality of meat to the consumers. But the CDGL has not taken any notice against the livestock department. This week almost no difference was found between open market and Sunday bazaar prices. This week again, no change has witnessed regarding the sales of substandard fruits and vegetables along with the complaints of overcharging. The rates of potatoes (new) reduced by Rs 6 per kilogram and fixed at Rs 16 to Rs 22 per kilogram from last week price of Rs 15 to Rs 28 per kilogram. The vendors had been selling B-grade potato at Rs 22 per kilogram. No vendor in any Sunday bazaar has sold lower quality potato (new) at Rs 15 per kilogram. Though the official price of potato (stored) was reduced by Rs 2 per kilogram and fixed at Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kilogram from Rs 10 to Rs 14 per kilogram but the vendors were charging high prices against the officially fixed price. Onion price was gained by Rs 3 to Rs 4 per kilogram and fixed at Rs 14 to Rs 18 per kilogram as compared to the last week price of Rs 11 to Rs 14 per kilogram. The tomato was not available in most of the Sunday bazaars. However, in few bazaars the price of tomato was Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kilogram as compared to the last week price of Rs 15 to Rs 22 per kilogram. Garlic (desi) was at Rs 14 to Rs 20 per kilogram. Sharp increase in the price of ginger (china) has registered this week. The price of it gained by Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kilogram and fixed at Rs 90 to Rs 100 per kilogram as compared to the last week price of Rs 60 to Rs 65 per kilogram. Price of Cucumber remained unchanged at Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kilogram. Ladyfinger price was also gained by Rs 2 per-kg and fixed at Rs 18 to Rs 22 per kilogram as compared to previous price of Rs 16 to Rs 20 per kilogram. Bitter Gourd price is declined by Re one to Rs 2 per kilogram and fixed at Rs 14 to Rs 18 per kilogram from Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kilogram. Green chilies price was also increased by Rs 9 to Rs 10 per kilogram and fixed at Rs 24 to Rs 28 per kilogram as compared to last week price of Rs 15 to Rs 18 per kilogram. Lemons price was reduced by Rs 5 per kilogram and fixed at Rs 25 to Rs 40 per kilogram from Rs 30 to Rs 45 per kilogram. Brinjal price was gained by Rs 6 per kilogram and fixed at Rs 16 to Rs 20 per kilogram as compared to the last week price of 10 to Rs 14 per kilogram. The price of pumpkin was gained by Rs 8 to Rs 10 per kilogram and fixed at Rs 16 to Rs 20 per kilogram as compared to the last week price of Rs 8 to Rs 10 per kilogram. Different varieties of mangoes rates were between Rs 35 to Rs 45 per kilogram. Banana price was Rs 40 to Rs 56 per dozen.