KARACHI, Nov 26: Prices of vegetables have gone up by Rs1-Rs2 a kg and those of fruits by Rs2-Rs6 a kg in the first 10 days of Ramazan due to a rise in demand, according to the official price list.

But the actual rise in prices is much higher. The prices of vegetables have increased by Rs2-Rs4 a kg, and vendors charge Rs5-Rs10 a kg more for fruits.

Prices of other items, which have less consumption, so a relative low demand, have either fallen or remained pegged to their old levels. Prices of fruits and vegetables are being issued by the Bureau of Supply and Prices (BSP) on a daily basis keeping the situation as regards demand and supply position.

A comparison of prices, prevailing on the first day with those on the tenth day of Ramazan, revealed that potato white (grade one) price shot up to Rs15 a kg on Monday as compared with Rs13.50 a kg on the first of Ramazan, and its second grade was priced at Rs10 a kg as compared with Rs nine a kg on the first Ramazan.

Vendors were, however, charging Rs16-Rs17 a kg for grade one potato.

Onion from the Sindh crop No 1 quality was now being sold at Rs eight a kg on Monday as compared with Rs7.50 a kg on Nov 17.

Vendors were actually demanding Rs nine a kg on the ground of good quality.

Green chillies (Shimla) were being sold at Rs22 a kg as compared with Rs21 a kg.

According to the official price list, the price of Orange (Mosami) No 1 quality surged to Rs22 a dozen from Rs20 a dozen and there is no change in the price of its No 2 quality as it is available at the old rate of Rs14 a dozen. However, in most areas of the city vendors are charging Rs25 for Mosami No 1 quality.

Fruits vendors quoted Rs22 a kg for guava (Malir) on Monday as compared with Rs16 a kg, and the Larkana variety was available at Rs22 a kg as compared with Rs18 a kg on the first of Ramazan. However, actually guava is selling at Rs23-Rs25 a kg.

Melon Yellow No two quality was being quoted at Rs nine a kg as compared with Rs seven a kg. The price of its No 1 quality stands unchanged at Rs13 a kg.

Retailers were demanding Rs25 a kg for Cheekoo No 1 quality as compared with Rs24 a kg on Nov 17.

Oranges (Kinoo) arrived in the market three days ago, but its prices shot up to Rs22 a dozen on Monday from Rs19 a dozen on Nov 24.

The fruiter variety has also arrived in the market, but its prices posted no change in the past few days, staying at Rs20 a dozen.

There is a fall in the prices of apple. The prices of its golden No 1 and No 2 quality plunged to Rs38 and Rs26 a kg from Rs41 and Rs31 a kg on the first of Ramazan, and apple Kulloo No 1 was selling at Rs22 a kg, down by Rs two a kg from Nov 17’s price of Rs24 a kg.

But retailers in many areas had not reduced the rates and were still charging the old higher prices.

In the market pomegranate (Anaar Kandahari) No1 and No 2 was selling at Rs40-Rs50 a kg. However, according to the official price list, its prices remained unchanged at Rs38 and Rs24 a kg in the last 10 days.

Sellers of fruits and vegetables (particularly pushcart owners) continued to keep the official price list on the sidelines by demanding prices of their own choice.

Confusion prevailed in the markets on Monday over reports that the Town Nazims had been given on Saturday the powers of judicial magistrate to challan retailers and vendors. But officials of the BSP said the BSP had not received any notification about this till Monday. BSP officials, sitting at a complaint camp at Water Pump, also expressed ignorance about this.

Ninety-eight judicial magistrate in Sindh have been deputed and given additional powers to control prices and take action against vendors and retailers if they fail to display the price list and indulged in overcharging.

A senior official of the BSP told Dawn that a judicial magistrate and a BSP inspector visited Jodia Bazar and Machhi Miani areas on Monday and challaned 13 retailers who were fined Rs2,600 for not displaying the price list and overcharging. In Burnes Road, eight retailers were fined Rs1,700.

On Saturday, 11 retailers were fined Rs2,200 in Jodia Bazar and Lea Market areas.

Town Nazims of various areas have been regularly visiting markets in their areas to check prices, but they are still awaiting powers to fine profiteers.

However, sources in the market said a few Town Nazims had fined retailers for profiteering, though they were not authorized to do so.

Consumers have been recording their protests at complaint centres against profiteering in the hope of getting some positive response from the price regulators. However, since the city government had not done much homework about price control before Ramazan, it is facing problems in curbing profiteering.