Consumers in Lahore continued to pay above official rates for essential food items over the past week. Poultry, vegetables and fruit remained costlier in retail markets despite revised official prices.
LAHORE: Consumers in Lahore continued to pay well above official rates for many essential food items over the past week, even after the district administration issued revised price lists and cut rates for some commodities.
The mismatch was visible across poultry, vegetables and fruit, with recent increases in petroleum prices adding to transport and distribution costs, especially for perishable goods. Even so, retail prices for several items remained far higher than the official reductions and notifications suggested.
Among poultry items, live chicken prices were reduced by Rs20 per kilogramme to Rs309-323, while meat rates were cut by Rs29 to Rs468 per kilogramme. In retail markets, however, chicken meat was selling at Rs510-570 per kg, while boneless chicken was priced at Rs850-950.
Vegetable prices showed mixed movement, but many items were still sold above the official ceiling. Sugar-free potatoes were fixed at Rs32-35 per kg and sold at Rs50-80. Local tomatoes rose by Rs15 in the official list to Rs265-285 per kg, but retail prices reached Rs340-400. Local garlic increased by Rs5 to Rs138-145 per kg and was sold at Rs200-250.
Chinese garlic retailed at Rs600 per kilogramme. Harani garlic rose by Rs15 to Rs240-250 per kg but was being sold at Rs320-400. Thai ginger fell by Rs15 to Rs335-350 per kg, yet retailed at Rs450-500, while Chinese ginger remained officially priced at Rs315-330 and sold at Rs400-450.
Leafy and seasonal vegetables also posted sharp gaps between notified and market rates. Official spinach prices doubled to Rs47-50 per kg, but consumers paid Rs80-120. Local lemons dropped by Rs50 to Rs105-110 per kg, though they retailed at Rs150-250. Green chillies rose by Rs15 to Rs110-115 per kg and were sold at Rs150-160, while capsicum remained officially priced at Rs304-320 but retailed at around Rs400. Peas stayed at Rs286-300 in the official list but were sold for Rs450-500.
Fruit prices were similarly elevated. A-grade bananas were fixed at Rs195-215 per dozen but retailed at Rs300-350. Dates were officially priced at Rs360-465 per kg but sold for Rs800-2,400. Different varieties of mangoes rose by Rs35 to Rs160-350 per kilogramme and were available in the market at Rs200-400.
The continued gap between official and retail prices has raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of the city’s price control mechanism
