PESHAWAR: The prices of fruit and vegetable, especially onion and tomato, are constantly very high for the past over three weeks both at the retail and wholesale markets in the provincial metropolis, but the administration is least bothered to take action.

The retailers are charging consumers at their free will and same is the situation at the wholesale market at Hashtnagri, as every trader has fixed own rates for these commodities. For instance, tomato is available at Rs120 per kilogramme and onion at Rs70 per kg, slightly above the prices in the wholesale markets.

During a visit to the wholesale market, the traders said that both the commodities were supplied from Afghanistan and the fluctuation in prices was due to the hurdles created in supply from across the border.

Traders’ leader says prices to normalise soon

“The prices are increased whenever the supply is stopped at the Torkham border,” said one Adil Khan. He said that rates were fixed every morning and the difference of prices was calculated on the basis of quality of vegetable or fruit.

Similarly, turnip and cauliflower are being sold at Rs70 per kg each, and the price of ginger price has been increased from Rs140 to Rs280 per kg.

According to retailers, onion and tomato prices have gone up due their increased use in the wake of Eidul Azha and the trend might persist for some weeks.

The rates of fruits are also not being checked and the vendors charge at their own free will. All Pakistan Agriculture Produce Traders’ Federation leader Malik Sohni said that the rates would be normalised within next some days with stability in supply of the commodities to the market.

Amin Khan, a consumer, said that the administration should take proper action to stabilise prices of the essential commodities.

When contacted, Mina Khan, a councillor who works as spokesman for the Peshawar district nazim, admitted that the traders were exploiting consumers. “We will hold a meeting on Monday (today) to devise a plan for checking prices through the district administration,” he said and added that the nazim would also visit the market.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2017