LAHORE: The prices of tomato registered an unprecedented increase in Lahore on Sunday as the vegetable was being sold between Rs200 and Rs260 a kilo in retail.

The city government fixed per kilo price of tomato at Rs160 for Sunday – Rs40 more than Saturday – but it could not ensure implementation of its price list.

Considered a must for traditional gravy in particular and other dishes in general, it was missing from all Sunday Bazaars of the Punjab metropolis. It was, however, available at some carts and shops in the open market between Rs200 and Rs260 per kilo.

A commission agent at the Badami Bagh wholesale market told Dawn that tomatoes were available in limited quantity.

“The season of tomatoes in Punjab is over now. Its supply from India also reduced because the season there is also over. Now the vegetable is brought here from Balochistan where it is available in limited quantity. The recent increase in POL products is also a factor in price hike,” he said.

Arshad, a buyer at Gulshan-i-Ravi Sunday Bazaar, said the city district administration’s inaction led to unprecedented increase in the prices of vegetables.

“The prices of tomato, onion, garlic and ginger go up before every Eidul Azha due to increase in demand. But after a week or so, the prices start rationalising due to interference of district administration. Perhaps, this time the administration remained busy in NA-120 by-election and could not initiate action against profiteers soon after Eid.”

Faisal, a vendor at Nawankot main bazaar, said the tomato price was Rs900 to Rs950 per 5 kg in the wholesale market of Badami Bagh. “It is not viable economically to sell tomato less than Rs200 per kilo in the retail,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2017