Food prices surge ahead of Ramazan

A vendor sells poultry meat at a shop in a Karachi’s neighbourhood on Wednesday. Photo: Jalal Qureshi/ express

LAHORE:

Prices of fruits, vegetables and poultry rose sharply across Lahore in the run-up to Ramazan, deepening public hardship as consumers complained that official rate lists offered little protection against profiteering and supply manipulation.

Market observers said the annual pre-Ramazan spike has once again taken hold, driven largely by producers and middlemen restricting supplies to inflate prices. Authorities, critics say, have struggled to rein in the practice despite routine price fixation exercises.

Fruit prices moved upward days before the start of Ramazan after producers slowed harvesting in orchards, particularly of bananas and guavas, whose consumption traditionally rises during the fasting month.

Traders said harvesting was deliberately paused for short periods beginning around 10 days ago, sharply tightening supply. As a result, prices surged while only lower-grade fruit reached markets.

Bananas reflected the trend. A-category bananas were officially fixed at Rs200230 per dozen but sold at Rs300-350, while B-category bananas fixed at Rs125-140 were retailed between Rs200 and Rs250 per dozen. Guava prices, fixed at Rs138-145 per kg, climbed to Rs200-250 per kg in most markets.

Consumers said the situation was no different for meat and vegetables. Although live chicken prices were officially reduced by Rs40 per kg to Rs309-323, the commodity was largely unavailable at those rates. Chicken meat, despite a cut of Rs58 to Rs468 per kg, sold between Rs500 and Rs550, while boneless chicken hovered near Rs800 per kg or higher in many neighbourhoods.

"For ordinary families, these so-called reductions mean nothing," said Ayesha Khalid, a homemaker shopping in Johar Town. "When you go to the market, the rates are completely different from what the government announces."