As Eid-ul-Azha is fast approaching and people are looking forward to celebrate the holy occasion, profiteer mafia has increased the prices of green vegetables under the pretext of floods, short supply and rising cost of transportation. Retailers pushed up vegetables' prices to new peak, with some greens' price crossing Rs 100 per kg mark. Traders attributed the unprecedented rise in prices to short supply from the producing areas.
Price of tomato made century and now it is being sold at Rs 100 per kg as compared to Rs 80 per kg and before September 15 it was being traded at Rs 40 per kg, lemon crossed Rs 160 per kg and ginger Rs 320 per kg. The retailers had already expressed fear that the prices of fruit and vegetables may go up further as their supply to Karachi has been badly affected by the heavy rains and consequent floods.
Prices of potato and onion are stable at Rs 50 to Rs 40 per kg. Retailers claimed that the vegetables which come from far-off areas were expensive due to transportation cost. Lady finger (bhindi) is being sold at Rs 120 per kg as against Rs 80-100 per kg on September 14. The retail price of cauliflower (phool gobhi) rose to Rs 80 from Rs 60 per kg. The retail price of cabbage (band gobhi) climbed to Rs 90 from Rs 60 per kg.