April 7, 2003	Monday	Safar 4, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, April 6: There is no official check on the sale of substandard commodities at the local Sunday bazaars.

Most of the vendors and stall-holders sell low-quality items at exorbitant rates due to which a big number of people stay away from these bazaars. The market committees have failed to ensure sale of quality items of daily use at the rates fixed in the official list.

Usually, the fruit and vegetable vendors keep quality stuff at the top and the substandard one at the bottom. They do not allow the buyers to take their pick. Sometimes, this results in exchange of hot words.

This correspondent visited a few bazaars on Sunday and observed a mixed trend in the rates of the kitchen items with some selling at subsidised rates, while the others at exorbitant rates. The rates of most of the vegetables and fruits, which are going out of season, showed an upward trend. These included onion, cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, green pepper and fruits such as oranges, apples etc.

Onions was selling at Rs34 per five kilogramme whereas the previous Sunday its price was Rs26 per five kilogramme. Potato had also registered an increase of Rs2. It was selling at Rs20-26 per five kilogramme, while the previous Sunday it was selling at Rs 20-25 per five kilogramme.

Tomato was selling at the previous rate of Rs12 per kilogramme. The rate of brinjal came down by one rupee from Rs14 to Rs13 per kilogramme. Cabbage and cauliflower were selling at Rs12 and Rs6 per kilogramme respectively.

Peas and ladyfinger were selling at Rs15 and Rs44 per kilogramme. Though the rate of ladyfinger had come down a few rupees, it was still too high for the low income groups to be bought.

Similarly, the rates of some fruits showed stability, while some registered an increase. Different categories of apple were selling at Rs 20-22-34-36 and Rs45 per kilogramme.

The rates of pulses and other grains remained stable. Their prices ranged between Rs24 to Rs34 per kilogramme. Edible oil was selling at Rs54 and Rs56 per packet.