LAHORE

The prices of most of vegetables remained up due to short supply with tomato rates touching to figure of Rs100 per kg in open market.
The rains have caused more than 50 percent increase in wholesale prices of some vegetables and fruits, as before the heavy rainfall, tomato was available in the range of Rs40-50 which has reached at about Rs100 a kg in some localities. The spinach which was being sold at Rs10 a kilogram in the wholesale market before monsoon season has suddenly jumped to Rs30 per kilogram. The current per-kg rate of coriander in the market is Rs30 which before the rainfall was Rs10 per coriander. The price of green chilli before the rains was Rs60-70 which has swelled to Rs120 a kilo. Likewise, a massive increase was observed in the price of gourd as it jumped to Rs80 from Rs50 per kilo. The price of lady’s finger at Sabzi Mandi before the rains was at Rs40/kg but it is currently being sold at Rs60/kg. The price of bitter gourd was Rs40/kg earlier, which has swelled to Rs60/kg. Moreover, cucumber which was being sold at Rs30/kg before the rains, is now being sold at Rs50/kg. The price of brinjal before the rain devastation was selling at Rs30/kg and now it is being sold at Rs60-70/kg.
Market sources said that prices of veggies are expected to rise more if vegetable supplies gets affected more from the recent flood and rains in Sindh and Punjab. It would take another one month to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of some vegetables and fruits. The wholesale market is also getting a tomato supply from India and China as local supply is almost shut, as crops have been destroyed in most parts of the country due to recent rains, besides creating hurdles in transportation, causing shortage of vegetables.
According to markets sources, the heavy monsoon rains in Punjab and Sindh have caused a crippling shortage of vegetables and fruits not only Lahore but also in several other mega cities fruit markets.
The vegetables supplies of which have been severely affected due to rains include lady’s finger, gourd, bitter gourd, tomato, carrot, coriander, onion, potato, green chilli, spinach and cucumber. However, in Sunday bazaars the customers felt some relief where rates were better as compared to open markets.