HYDERABAD: Gro-ceries went further beyond the reach of the common man on the first day of Ramazan on Thursday as price controlling mechanism failed to rein in the skyrocketing prices of consumer items in the retail market.

Unilateral increase in the prices of vegetables and fruits affected the buyers most as fruit sellers shifted the blame on wholesale suppliers for selling those items at higher prices. It was observed that despite issuance of official price lists, rates remained skyrocketing in local markets.

Quality No.1 banana was sold for Rs300 per dozen against the official price of Rs240; apple (Kullu) for Rs250 per kilo against Rs200; watermelon (Golarchi) for Rs150 to Rs160 per kilo against the official price of Rs100 and watermelon for Rs100 to Rs130 per kg.

Tomato and potato quoted at Rs30 per kg and Rs40 per kg before Ramazan were sold for Rs80 per kg and Rs60 per kg, respectively. The official price of potato was fixed at Rs50 per kg. Quality No.2 banana was sold for Rs200 against the official rate of Rs160.

Similarly, cauliflower was sold for Rs80 against the official price of Rs45 per kg, spinach for Rs70 against Rs40 and coriander leaf for Rs80 against the official rate of Rs70.

The price of lemon was increased from Rs560 per kg to Rs650 per kg, but nobody at the administrative level questioned the retailers. Onions, pumpkin, turnip, peas and carrot were also sold at higher prices with a differential of Rs10 to Rs20 per kg.

A packet of dates from Irani was available for Rs600 per kg against the official rate of Rs440 per kg while those from Khairpur was sold for Rs300 against the rate of Rs240 per kg.

In case of poultry meat, broiler’s official price was fixed at Rs565 per kg, but it was being sold for Rs600 to Rs650 per kg. Beef was fixed at Rs600, but it could only be bought for Rs650 to Rs700 per kg. Mutton’s price was notified at Rs1,350 per kg by the administration, but butchers were selling it for Rs1,600 to Rs1,800 per kg.

Buyers could not do anything, but having argument with the fruit and vegetable sellers without any result.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Fuad Ghaffar Soomro has instructed the four assistant commissioners of the taluka to check prices in line with the officially rates.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2023