LAHORE: Prices of fruits, vegetables, and chicken in Lahore continue to burden consumers, even though official rates remain stable or have slightly decreased. Sellers are charging significantly higher than the government-set prices.
Live chicken was officially priced at Rs397-411 per kg, yet consumers paid Rs480-500 per kg. Similarly, chicken meat sold at Rs630-710 per kg, while boneless chicken reached Rs1,100-1,200 per kg, reflecting persistent overcharging.
Fruit prices showed mixed trends. Apples stayed at Rs170-305 per kg, bananas A-category at Rs197-220 per dozen, and guava at Rs205-215 per kg, whereas papaya and mango varieties increased up to Rs90 per kg.
Vegetables also showed price gaps. Potato A-grade stayed at Rs80-85 per kg, B-grade at Rs65-70, and C-grade at Rs55-60, but mixed potatoes were sold at Rs120-150 per kg, far above official rates.
Onion A-grade rose slightly to Rs65-70 per kg, while mixed onions sold at Rs80 per kg. Tomato A-grade increased to Rs95-100 per kg, with mixed tomatoes priced Rs120-130 per kg, causing consumer concerns.
Other vegetables, including brinjal, spinach, zucchini, lemon, lady finger, capsicum, cauliflower, and cabbage, also saw consumer prices exceeding official rates, indicating that the government’s efforts to control perishable item prices remain largely ineffective.