As the holy month of Ramazan is rapidly creeping towards its end and in the wake of growing demands of vegetables on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, people are looking forward to celebrate the holy occasion, profit mafia has increased the prices of green vegetables on pretext of short supply.
The skyrocketing rates are attributed by the retailer to hoarding of vegetables by traders and the devastation of large quantity of vegetable crops spread over vast areas of agriculture land of Punjab as a result of the heavy monsoon rains.
People at the wholesale market said that on the eve of every Eid, prices go up as the administration deliberately avoids taking any action.
Though the retailers said they are getting the supplies at higher rates, but they too are making a lot of money in connivance with those, who are supposed to keep a check.
Retailers pushed up vegetables prices to a new peak, with some greens' prices crossing Rs200 per kg mark referring to thin arrival from the producing areas.
Price of tomato made double century and now it is being sold to Rs 200 per kg from Rs 40 per kg before June 28, lemon and garlic crossed Rs 200 per kg mark.
Prices of potato and onion have slightly gone up from Rs 25 to Rs 30 and Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kg respectively.
Retailers claimed that the vegetables which come from far-off places were expensive due to transportation costs.
In many items, the retailers are openly charging more than double price in the wholesale market at Super Highway.
There is virtually no authority to check the profiteering by the vegetable dealers.
On the other hand flocks of eager customers are heading towards markets of the city for Eid shopping.
Though the Eid shopping remained low during the first three weeks of Ramazan this year, it started picking up impetus as most of the shopping centers remained open for the entire night after Iftar.
Huge rush of people was witnessed in the Saddar, Tariq Road, Samama markets and in the shopping plazas on the University Road.
Despite skyrocketing prices, children and women are seen eager to select unique designs of clothes to wear on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
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