Consumers unable to buy poultry at govt rates

As the holy month of Ramazan nears its end, the Punjab government has yet to address the ongoing issue of poultry price fixation, allowing unchecked overcharging in markets. Despite official rates remaining unchanged for the fourth consecutive week, consumers continued to face inflated prices. Officially, chicken meat was priced between Rs397 and Rs411 per kilogram but it was sold at Rs600 to Rs650 per kg across the provincial capital. Similarly, boneless chicken, fixed at Rs1,150 to Rs1,200, was sold at significantly higher rates. The issue of overpricing extended beyond poultry, with fruits, vegetables and other meats being sold above their official rates. Price enforcement remained ineffective in markets. Potatoes, onions and tomatoes were sold at almost double the official price. Soft-skin A-grade potatoes were officially priced between Rs45 and Rs50 per kg but sold for Rs80 to Rs100. A-grade onions, with an official price of Rs45 to Rs50, were sold for Rs80 to Rs100 per kg. Tomatoes saw a substantial markup, as A-grade varieties were officially fixed at Rs55 to Rs60 per kg but were sold for up to Rs140. Garlic and ginger prices fluctuated, with local garlic dropping by Rs30 per kg, while the GI variety increased by Rs10, and Chinese garlic saw a reduction of Rs10. Despite these adjustments, all varieties were sold well above fixed prices. The cost of Thai and Chinese ginger also surged by Rs32 per kg, selling for Rs500 to Rs600 in markets. Vegetable prices reflected similar trends. Cucumbers, brinjals, bitter gourds, zucchini and lemons were all sold at rates significantly exceeding their official pricing. Farm cucumbers, officially priced at Rs40 per kg, were sold at Rs80 to Rs100. The price of brinjals remained unchanged officially at Rs57 to Rs60 per kg, but market rates soared to Rs100 to Rs120. Fruit prices also remained volatile, with apples, bananas, guavas, pomegranates, and strawberries experiencing notable increases. Apple prices varied widely, with official rates between Rs170 and Rs325 per kg, but market prices soared as high as Rs540 to Rs600. Bananas saw a substantial markup, with A-category priced at Rs260 per dozen but selling for Rs350 to Rs400. Pomegranates and dates remained costly, with the premium varieties reaching as high as Rs1,500 per kg. Seasonal fruits like kinow and musami were also sold at inflated prices, with kinow reaching up to Rs 600 per dozen.

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