Consumers in Punjab continue to face price shocks on perishable food items, with essential vegetables, poultry, and fruits consistently sold above government-fixed rates despite the establishment of new price control mechanisms.
As per reports, markets across the province saw discrepancies between the officially set prices and those charged by vendors during the last week. In poultry markets, for example, the government had reduced the price of live chicken to Rs374-388 per kilogram, but consumers reported paying up to Rs480 per kilogram.
Similarly, chicken meat was priced at Rs562 per kilogram by the government but was sold for Rs570-640, and boneless chicken reached Rs1,200 per kilogram.
Vegetables also saw significant price increases. A-grade soft-skin potatoes, officially set at Rs80-85 per kilogram, were sold for Rs140-150 per kilogram. Onions, which were supposed to be priced at Rs50-55 per kilogram, were instead sold for up to Rs100. Tomatoes, officially priced at Rs82-90 per kilogram, surged to Rs150.
Garlic and ginger were among the most overpriced items, with garlic varieties retailing for up to Rs400 per kilogram, significantly exceeding the official rates of Rs210-260. Ginger prices also saw a sharp increase, reaching Rs600-700 per kilogram, well above the official rates of Rs400-460.
Other vegetables, such as cucumbers (Rs200/kg), brinjals (Rs150), bitter gourds (Rs220), and ladyfinger (Rs240), also saw steep price hikes. Similar patterns were observed for spinach, pumpkin, zucchini, lemon, and arum, which exceeded official prices by Rs30-100 per kilogram.
Fruits also experienced significant markups, with apples, which were officially priced at Rs145-265 per kilogram, being sold for up to Rs350. Banana prices jumped by Rs50-90 depending on grade, while guava and papaya exceeded their official price limits or were unavailable. Grapes and mangoes, despite minor adjustments in official pricing, were sold at inflated rates, with some varieties reaching Rs500 per kilogram.
Even middle-income consumers found basic fruits such as melon, dates, and peaches unaffordable, with dates priced at Rs2,000 per kilogram in some markets, far exceeding the official range of Rs460-490. The ongoing violations of official pricing highlight the challenges in enforcing price control mechanisms and exacerbating consumer frustration.
