Sunday bazaar officials get rough with shoppers

Monday, November 17, 2008
By Jawwad Rizvi

LAHORE:IN the absence of check from higher authorities this week, the staff deputed at Sunday Bazaars misbehaved with the shoppers who approached them for redress of their grievances.
The high officials concerned did not visit Sunday bazaars because they were informed that the district coordination officer (DCO) would not visit the makeshift markets this week.
The visitors to the Sunday bazaars were left at the mercy of vendors and lower staff who always misbehaved with them.
Incidents of misbehaviour often occur at almost every Sunday bazaar, particularly where the top management of the City District Government, Lahore, does not pay regular visits.
The DCO usually visits the neglected Sunday bazaars, including Tajpura, Green Town and Shahdara bazaars, after long intervals so the management of these bazaars do not care for the public complaints.
The managements of these Sunday bazaars, with their previous experiences, know that the top brass of the CDGL is least interested in the bazaars.
The government always takes notice of the situation when it goes out of control.
A market committee official at Shalimar Sunday bazaar also misbehaved with this correspondent when pointed out that the price of garlic, Desi, was Rs 28 per kilogram against Rs 17 per kg fixed by the market committee. The official, instead of admitting his mistake, told this scribe said to do what he could. “Are you DC Jhang?” the official said and asked the correspondent to complain to anyone about it.
The reporter went to the town management stall to lodge his complaint but the senior officer, Amer Khan, who is responsible for managing this makeshift market, was not there. The staff said that Amer would come late as he had a piece of work at home. In such situation who will ensure redress of grievances of the consumers?
This week again no improvement was seen in the poor localities’ Sunday bazaars despite the CDGL’s claims of making them model makeshift markets.
The vendors in the poor localities’ Sunday bazaars were still stilling selling their products by putting them on ground. No separate portion was arranged for female vendors in Islampura Sunday bazaar to sell their products despite the DCO announcement in this regard.
The price of chicken for Sunday bazaars was fixed at Rs 120 per kg while in different areas of the city it was sold for Rs 117 to Rs 120 per kg.
Vendors holding their vegetables carts were standing on the premises of the bazaars despite ban on entry of the carts to Sunday bazaars.In majority of Sunday bazaars quality of fruits and vegetables was poor. Vendors continued sale of mixed fruits and vegetables at A-grade price fixed by the market committee. In Shadman Sunday bazaar, shortage of potato was seen while in Johar Town bazaar onion was not available. In poor localities’ Sunday bazaars the vendors sold rotten fruits and vegetables by mixing them into low grade items. The vendors were also found overcharging.
The onion price for Sunday bazaars was fixed at Rs 16 to Rs 18 per kg. In the wholesale market its prices were from Rs 14 to Rs 16 per kg.
In Sunday bazaars, low grade onion was sold at Rs 18 per kg while, in Singhpura Mandi, it was sold for Rs 20 to Rs 24 per kg. In retail markets, onion was sold at Rs 24 to Rs 28 per kg showing that there was no official control on prices. The price of new potato in Sunday bazaars decreased by Rs 2 per kg and was fixed at Rs 26 to Rs 30 per kg from the last week’s price of Rs 28 to Rs 32 per kg. Wholesale price of potato was fixed at Rs 24 to Rs 28 per kg and retail price at Rs 28 to Rs 32 per kg whereas it was sold at Rs 30 to Rs 33 and Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg respectively.
Price of stored potatoes reduced by Rs 2 per kg and was fixed at Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kg from the previous week’s price of Rs 14 to Rs 17 per kg.
Price of tomato was fixed at Rs 26 to Rs 30 per kg as compared to the last week’s price of Rs 36 to Rs 44 per kg registering a decline of Rs 10 to Rs 14 per kg. It was sold at the higher side of price at 30 per kg.
Price of garlic, China, was at Rs 26 to Rs 28 per kg and garlic, Desi, at Rs 14 to Rs 17 per kg.
Rate of ginger, China, was fixed at Rs 57 to Rs 60 per kg and ginger, Thai, at Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kg. Price of cucumber reduced by Rs 2 per kg from the last week’s price and was fixed at Rs 22 to Rs 26 per kg.
Price of peas gained Rs 8 per kg and was fixed at Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg from the last week’s price of Rs 42 to Rs 52 per kg. Peas were sold for Rs 60 at Sunday bazaars and wholesale market.
Capsicum price increased by one to two rupees per kg and was fixed at Rs 32 to Rs 37 per kg. Green chilli price was fixed at Rs 20 to Rs 22 per kg.
Price of lemon, China, was fixed at Rs 14 to Rs 20 per kg. Price of cauliflower was fixed at Rs 22 to Rs 26 per kg as compared to its last week’s price of Rs 32 to Rs 42 per kg. However, it was sold at Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kg in Sunday bazaars as well as in the wholesale market.
Spinach price was fixed at Rs 9 to Rs 12 per kg after reduction of two to three rupees per kg in its last week’s price.
Carrot price was fixed at Rs 22 to Rs 27 per kg but it was sold at Rs 30 per kg in Sunday bazaars. Brinjal price was fixed at Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg. Turnip price was fixed at Rs 12 to Rs 14 per kg but it was sold at Rs 15 per kg. Ladyfinger price was fixed at Rs 35 to Rs 42 per kg.
Price of different quality apples was fixed at Rs 19 to Rs 52 per kg from the last week’s price of Rs 15 to Rs 57 per kg. Price of banana was at Rs 10 to Rs 22 per dozen from the last week’s price of Rs 12 to Rs 32 per dozen. Banana in Sunday bazaars was sold at Rs 20 per dozen.
Price of pomegranate, Bedana, was at Rs 80 to Rs 100 per kg and pomegranate, Kandhari, at Rs 55 to Rs 60 per kg while vendors charged higher sides of their price. Rate of grapes ranged between Rs 72 and Rs 102 per kg. Price of guava was at Rs 22 to Rs 26 per kg. Grapefruit price was at Rs 5 to Rs 6 per piece and Mussami at Rs 24 to Rs 38 per dozen.