Model Sunday bazaars no different than others

Monday, November 10, 2008
By Jawwad Rizvi

LAHORE: NO improvement was seen so far in the condition of the Sunday bazaars despite the City District Government Lahore’s claims to make them model makeshift markets.

The CDGL had declared to make three Sunday bazaars, including Tajpura and Islampura, model ones a couple of weeks ago. The vendors in the poor localities’ Sunday bazaars were stilling selling their products by putting them on land. There was no check and balance by the food department on quality of flour. The authorities still did not take notice of the higher price of chicken meant than in the open market. The official price of chicken meant for Sunday bazaar was fixed at Rs 123 per kilogram while in different areas of the city it was being sold for Rs 118 to Rs 120 per kg.

Vendors were also selling vegetables on push-carts despite ban on entry of carts to these bazaars.

Quality of fruits and vegetables was still poor in some localities’ makeshift markets while the vendors continued sale of mixed fruits and vegetables at A-grade price.

In many Sunday bazaars the vendors sold rotten fruits and vegetables by mixing them in low grade items. The vendors were also found overcharging.

The district coordination officer (DCO) had announced a separate portion for female vendors in Islampura Sunday bazaar. But during the survey conducted by The News, there was no such portion.

Low buying was recorded this week in the makeshift markets as compared to the previous week. Price of onion increased this week by Rs 2 to Rs 3 per kg and was fixed at Rs 17 to Rs 21 per kg. In the open market, onion was sold at Rs 22 to Rs 25 per kg against the official price of Rs 18 to Rs 22 per kg. Price of new potato in Sunday bazaars reduced by Rs 2 to Rs 4 per kg and was fixed at Rs 28 to Rs 32 per kg.

Price of stored potatoes also decreased by Re 1 per kg and was fixed at Rs 14 to Rs 17 per. In the open market, price of new potato was fixed at Rs 30 to Rs 34 per kg but vendors sold them by mixing old potatoes at Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kg.

Price of tomato increased by Rs 8 to Rs 7 per kg and was fixed at Rs 36 to Rs 44 per kg from Rs 28 to Rs 37 per kg. In Sunday bazaars, it was sold at 40 to Rs 44 per kg.

Price of garlic, China, remained stable at Rs 27 to Rs 30 per kg and garlic, Desi, price was fixed at Rs 20 to Rs 24 per kg.

Rate of ginger, China, was fixed at Rs 57 to Rs 62 per kg from Rs 62 to Rs 64 per kg previous week’s price and ginger, Thai, price was fixed at Rs 37 to Rs 42 per kg.

Price of cucumber reduced by Rs 6 to Rs 10 per kg and was fixed at Rs 24 to Rs 28 per kg from the last week’s price of Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg.

Price of peas reduced by Rs 10 per kg and was fixed at Rs 42 to Rs 52 per kg. Capsicum price remained stable at Rs 30 to Rs 36 per kg. Green chilli price reduced and it was fixed at Rs 22 to Rs 24 per kg from Rs 27 to Rs 32 per kg.

Price of lemon, China, was fixed at Rs 16 to Rs 24 per kg from Rs 14 to Rs 22 per kg. Price of cauliflower was from Rs 32 to Rs 42 per kg after registering an increase of Rs 2 to Rs 4 per kg from the last week’s price. Cabbage price was Rs 16 to Rs 18 per kg. Spinach price was fixed at Rs 12 to Rs 14 per kg after reduction of Re 1 per kg from last week’s price of Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kg.

Price of radish was from Rs 5 to Rs 7 per kg, carrot from Rs 20 to Rs 24 per kg, brinjal from Rs 20 to Rs 26 per kg and turnip from Rs 16 to Rs 20 per kg.

Price of ladyfinger was fixed at Rs 37 to Rs 44 per kg and biter gourd at Rs 52 to Rs 57 per kg. Pumpkin price was fixed at Rs 27 to Rs 32 per kg.

Price for different quality apples was fixed from Rs 15 to Rs 57 per kg. Most of the sale of apples was between Rs 35 to Rs 45 per kg in the makeshift markets.

Price of banana was from Rs 12 to Rs 32 per dozen from last week’s price of Rs 11 to Rs 24 per dozen while banana in Sunday bazaar was sold at Rs 25 to Rs 30 per dozen.

Price of pomegranate, Badana, was fixed at Rs 82 to Rs 102 per kg and pomegranate, Kandhari, at Rs 57 to Rs 72 per kg while vendors charged average Rs 100 and 70 per kg for both qualities respectively. Rate of grapes ranged between Rs 52 and Rs 122 per kilogram from its last week’s price of Rs 57 to Rs 122 per kg and its average price charged by vendors was Rs 80 per kg. Price of guava was Rs 17 to Rs 30 per kg. Rate of grapefruit was Rs 5 to Rs 7 per piece and mussami at Rs 26 to Rs 42 per dozen.