Market Committee and City District administration Multan have left the consumers at the mercy of vendors/traders in the Sunday/Friday bazaars. The number of buyers remained low in yesterday's bazaars as prices were high and quality was low.
It seems the district administration is least interested in improving condition of the makeshift markets which were meant to provide quality fruits and vegetables to the public at relatively lower rates. The overlooking attitude on part of the district management has damaged the basic cause of establishing weekly bazaars in the city, as always substandard fruits and vegetables are sold there while the rates are also the same like in the open market.
This week market committee stalls were established again but were closed till 2:00 pm as all the quantity was sold. The market committee officials said that the limited quantity of vegetables was given to them for sale at Rs 2 per kilogram lower than the Sunday bazaars rates. The quantity was sold due to lower price and better quality. They said that even in this limited quantity they faced loss every week as no sack contained 100-kg vegetable while the traders in Mandi charged 100-kg price. Some extra item was also given to every buyer which also caused some loss, they added.
In the absence of officials the vendors fleeced the buyers and overcharged them on majority of fruits and vegetables. The quality of fruits was also very low. The price of new potato was fixed at Rs 22 to 28 per kilogram with a decline of Rs 3 to 4 per kg from the last week's Rs 25 to 32 per kg. The price of onion was increased by Rs 2 to 4 per kg and fixed at Rs 60 to 68 per kg and mixed quality was sold at Rs 68 per kg.
Tomato rates were also increased by Rs 6 to 9 per kg and fixed at Rs 30 to 37 per kg from Rs 24 to 28 per kg. Garlic China price was enhanced by Rs 10 to 20 per kg and fixed at Rs 180 to 200 per kg from Rs 170 to 180 per kg and sold up to Rs 220 per kg. Garlic Desi price was fixed at Rs 210 to 228 per kg and sold at Rs 250 per kg. Ginger China price was increased by Rs 10 and fixed at Rs 170 to 190 per kg. Ginger India price was increased by Rs 10 to 30 per kg and reached Rs 90 to 120 per kg and Ginger Thai at Rs 130 to 145 per kg.
Spinach Desi price was fixed at Rs 5 to 6 per kg and spinach of farm at Rs 3 to 4 per kg but sold at Rs 10 to 15 per kg. Brinjal price was fixed at Rs 6 to 7 per kg and it was sold at Rs 20 per kg. Cucumber Desi price was fixed at Rs 38 to 50 per kg and cucumber of farm at Rs 20 to 25 per kg from Rs 30 to 40 per kg. Cabbage price was reduced by Rs 10 per kg and fixed at Rs 10 to 14 per kg and sold at Rs 20 per kg.