Sunday bazaars fail to serve people

Monday, November 24, 2008


By Jawwad Rizvi
LAHORE: THE makeshift markets of essential items have failed in providing relief to the common man.

The makeshift markets were established with a concept to provide relief to the common man by ensuring availability of fruits and vegetables there at reduced prices.

Some officials of the City District Government, on the condition of not to be named, said that after Ramazan the focus of the CDGL had shifted from makeshift markets to other issues and currently it had been focusing on dengue fever control. There is no relief at Sunday bazaars for the people, they said admitting that the prices of different fruits and vegetables were almost the same in the open and makeshift markets.

If the price of some fruits or vegetables is less than their prices in the open market then their quality will be low, they added.

In the absence of any check from the higher authorities, the lower staff deputed at the makeshift markets usually remains absent from their duties after marking their attendance in attendance register.

The high level staff also remains absent from Sunday bazaars if they have information that the district coordination officer (DCO) will not visit the Sunday bazaars, officials added.

There are complaints of poor quality of fruits and vegetables in almost every Sunday bazaar.

No one takes action on the sale of poor quality fruits and vegetables while people are compelled to buy poor quality items at higher rates.

CDGL officials usually visit the bazaars in the poor localities; Tajpura, Green Town and Shahdara, after long intervals. Thus the management of the bazaars in these areas do not care for the complaints.

Incidents of misbehaviour of the officials frequently occur at almost every Sunday bazaars, particularly at the bazaars where the top management of the CDGL does not visit regularly.

The Punjab chief minister had also paid visits to the makeshift market in Ramazan. But after Ramzan, no visits were paid to these bazaars by the CM or any MPA.

Still no improvement was seen in the Sunday bazaars set up in poor localities despite the CDGL’s claims to make them model makeshift markets.

The vendors in the poor localities’ Sunday bazaars were still selling their products by putting them on ground.

Vendors holding their vegetables carts were standing inside the bazaars despite ban on entry of such carts to the bazaars.

In majority of Sunday bazaars substandard fruits and vegetables were being sold. Vendors also continued sale of mixed fruits and vegetables at A-grade price.

The price of onion was fixed at Rs 20 to Rs 24 per kilogram in Sunday bazaars after increase in it by Rs 4 to Rs 6 per kilogramme as compared to the last week’s price of Rs 16 to Rs 18 per kg. Vendors sold onion at Rs 24 per kg by mixing low grade onion in it. The price of onion for wholesale market was fixed at Rs 18 to Rs 22 per kg. Its retail price was fixed at Rs 21 to Rs 26 per kg and it was sold at Rs 26 to Rs 28 per kg in retail.

The price of new potato in Sunday bazaars reduced by Rs 2 to Rs 4 per kg and was fixed at Rs 22 to Rs 28 per kg from the last week’s price of Rs 26 to Rs 30 per kg. The wholesale price of potato was fixed at Rs 20 to Rs 26 per kg but it was sold at Rs 28 per kg while in retail market it was sold at Rs 32 to Rs 34 per kg against the price of Rs 24 to Rs 30 per kg.

The price of stored potatoes remained stable at Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kg. The price of tomato increased by Rs 14 to Rs 15 per kg and reached Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kg from the last week’s price of Rs 26 to Rs 30 per kg. In Sunday bazaars, it was sold at 45 per kg.

The price of garlic, China, was at Rs 27 to Rs 30 per kg after increase of one to two rupees per kg in its previous price of Rs 26 to Rs 28 per kg. Garlic, Desi, price was fixed at Rs 17 to Rs 22 per kg after registering an increase of Rs 3 to Rs 5 per kg.

The rate of ginger, China, increased by Rs 5 to Rs 6 per kg and was fixed at Rs 62 to Rs 66 per kg and ginger, Thai, price increased by Rs 16 to Rs 15 per kg and was fixed at Rs 56 to Rs 60 per kg. The price of cucumber remained stabled at Rs 22 to Rs 26 per kg.

The price of peas was fixed at Rs 44 to Rs 50 per kg in Sunday bazaars and it was sold at Rs 50 per kg while in open market and Singhpura Mandi it was sold at Rs 50 to Rs 70 per kg. However, the quality of peas in makeshift markets was low.

Capsicum price was fixed at Rs 32 to Rs 36 per kg. Green chilli price was fixed at Rs 16 to Rs 22 per kg from its previous price of Rs 20 to Rs 22 per kg.

The price of lemon, China, was fixed at Rs 15 to Rs 22 per kg while its previous price was Rs 14 to Rs 20 per kg.

The price of cauliflower was fixed at Rs 20 to Rs 24 per kg from the last week’s price of Rs 22 to Rs 26 per kg but it was sold at Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kg.

Spinach price was fixed at Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kg. The price of radish was at Rs 4 to Rs 7 per kg but it was sold at Rs 5 to Rs 8 per kg in Shalimar, Tajpura, Jhor Town and Shadra Sunday bazaars. Carrot price was fixed at Rs 22 to Rs 28 per kg but it was sold at Rs 28 to Rs 32 per kg in Sunday bazaars. Brinjal price was fixed at Rs 16 to Rs 18 per kg but it was not available in makeshift markets. Turnip price was fixed at Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kg. Ladyfinger price was fixed at Rs 40 to Rs 48 per kg from the last week’s price of Rs 35 to Rs 42 per kg.

The price of different quality apples was fixed at Rs 24 to Rs 46 per kg from the last week’s price of Rs 19 to Rs 52 per kg. Average price of apples in makeshift markets was at Rs 30 per kg.

The price of banana was at Rs 12 to Rs 32 per dozen as compared its last week’s price of Rs 10 to Rs 22 per dozen while average price of banana in Sunday bazaars was Rs 25 per dozen.

The price of pomegranate, Bedana, was at Rs 80 to Rs 102 per kg and Kandhari at Rs 52 to Rs 82 per kg while vendors charged higher sides of their prices Rs 100 and 70 per kg respectively.

The rates of grapes ranged between Rs 72 and Rs 132 per kg. However, in routine, it was sold at Rs 90 to Rs 100 per kg. The price of guava was Rs 22 to Rs 32 per kg. The price of grapefruit was at Rs 7 to Rs 12 per piece and mosumi at Rs 26 to Rs 42 per dozen.