September 03, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 2, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 2: The City District Government of Lahore could not devise a mechanism to control prices of vegetables and fruits in the wholesale markets that resulted either in non-availability or acute shortage of essential items in Ramazan Bazaars on the first day of the holy month on Tuesday.

Flour was another sought-after item at these makeshift markets, and for the first time, queues and quarrels were witnessed at stalls offering limited quantity of onions and potatoes for an hour or so at Shadman, Wahdat Colony and Model Town.

Famous brand cooking oil and ghee was not available in most of these marts where the commodity of ‘lesser’ brands was being sold for Rs125 per kilo against the fixed price of Rs118 per kilo.

Vehicles carrying flour reached these markets after 10am and within one-and-a-half hours, all 20-kilo bags were sold. Flour was not available at any Ramazan Bazaar after 4pm.

The Ramazan bazaars are set up at the site of Sunday bazaars at Shadman Link Road, Wahdat Colony, Baghbanpura, Shadbagh, GT Road (near Shalamar Gardens), Tajpura, Begum Kot, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Moon Market, Model Town's R Block, Green Town, Wapda Town's G Block, Jallo Morr, Ravi Road and opposite to the Rangers Headquarters.

The CDGL had fixed the price of new potato between Rs20 and Rs27 and of stored potato between Rs10 and Rs15 per kilo. Vendors at the Ramazan Bazaars claimed the vegetable was available not less than Rs30 per kilo in the Badami Bagh Fruit and Vegetable Market and they did not bring it because it was not possible for them to sell it at the official prices. In nearby outlets and shops, potatoes were sold between Rs30 and Rs36 per kilo.

Likewise, onion price was fixed between Rs18 and Rs24 per kilo, but was being sold between Rs36 and Rs40 per kilo in the open market.

The CDGL could manage to put on sale only three to five 100-kilo sacks of both onions and potatoes at Shadman, Wahdat Road and Model Town around noon.

Initially, the buyers made queues to purchase the items, but soon, realising the short supply, they started quarrelling with one another.

The two essential items remained missing throughout the day from Baghbanpura, Shadbagh, GT Road, Tajpura, Begum Kot, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Moon Market, Green Town, Jallo Mor and Ravi Road.

Tomato also remained in short supply with its prices fixed between Rs20 and Rs30 per kilo but was being sold between Rs36 and Rs40.

Prices of local garlic were fixed between Rs15 and Rs21 per kilo and of China garlic between Rs28 and Rs34 per kilo. Ginger was in short supply as its prices were between Rs62 and Rs68 per kilo.

Different varieties of apple were sold between Rs45 and Rs65 per kilo. Pomegranate was sold between Rs40 and Rs70 per kilo while guava was not available anywhere as its prices were fixed between Rs24 and Rs24 per kilo while it was being sold in the open market between Rs35 and Rs60 per kilo.

Banana was also missing from most makeshift markets while it was available between Rs35 and Rs60 per dozen in the open market.