Lahore:
Heavy rain and floods over Punjab have disturbed the movement of food supplies to Lahore, leaving wholesale markets shortly after key perishable objects and triggers sharp price increases over poultry, vegetables and fruits.
Consumers reported that the defect has not only reduced the availability of fresh products, but also pushed the quality down, with many items arriving or in smaller quantities. The absence of active government monitoring and enforcement has further enabled retailers to charge well over the official prices and elaborate on the frustration among buyers who are already managing increasing living costs.
Dealers in larger wholesale markets said that trucks with vegetables and fruits could not reach Lahore due to road closures and damaged routes from flood -affected areas. The reduced influx has meant fewer choices for wholesalers and retailers who transferred the cost of ending consumers.
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Poultry was among the most affected categories. Live chicken, official price between Rs 397 and RS 411 pr. Kg, was sold to customers for Rs 500 to Rs 530. Chicken meat, which had a fixed speed of Rs 595 per day. Kg, picked up between RS 650 and RS 750 in retailer, while boned chicken was sold for as high as RS 1,200 against the stated RS 1,100 in Leiling.
Vegetables also experienced widespread climbs. Soft skin potatoes rose with Rs 5 to Rs 85 to Rs 90 per day. Kg on the official list, but retail to Rs 150. Kg, was sold to RS 300, while the Harani variety rose with RS 5 to Rs 282 to Rs 295, but was referred to Rs 400. Ginger, fasted between RS 395 and 45, Rets RS 600 to RS 700 in markets.
Other common vegetables, including Bitter Gourd, Brinjal, Zucchini, Luffa, Capsicum, Cauliflower, Pumpkin and Ladyfinger, also recorded Price Shopping of Rs 20 to Rs 40 per day. Kg over the official messages. Only spinach and Chinese carrots showed small reductions, but even these retailed at higher than fixed prices.
Fruit markets also reflected a similar imbalance. Apples, bananas, guavas, peaches and plums remained unchanged on the government list, but retailers still demanded significantly higher rates. Mangos of different varieties rose by Rs 50 per. Kg, fasted to RS 210 to RS 310, but sold between Rs 200 and RS 450. Grapes of Sundarkhani -Sort got RS 10, with official rates set to RS 440 to RS 460, but was sold to RS 500 to RS 600. Persimmons, set to RS 168 to Rs 175 per Kg, retail to almost double, from Rs 300 to Rs 350.
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Buyers all over the city expressed anger over the uncontrolled profit. Many said the authorities had failed to ensure compliance with price lists that were shown in markets. “The price control teams are nowhere to be seen,” said a consumer, Ali Ahmad, at Shadman Market. “Every seller charges what he wants and there is no one to stop them.”
Market observers noted that the convergence of natural disturbance and weak enforcement has left consumers vulnerable to exploitation. With flooding water that still hinders transport routes and forecasts for more rain, dealers expect disruptions in the supply chain to continue in the coming weeks.
Economists warn that long -term lack of fresh products could add a wider inflation pressure that already weighs heavily on townhouses.
