With limited space for subsidies and heavy reliance on indirect taxation, future fiscal measures could put upward pressure on prices, particularly affecting urban consumers. Photo (file)
LAHORE:
Despite repeated claims of enforcement, the government’s price control mechanism has largely failed to translate into relief for consumers as essential food items continue to be sold well above officially announced rates in the city’s main markets.
While demand remains high during the Eid holiday, the widening gap between official and retail rates has exposed structural weaknesses in the application, leaving citizens increasingly frustrated with rising inflation.
Market surveys across the city show that most products, from poultry to fruits and vegetables, were either unavailable at official prices or sold at significantly higher prices, undermining the effectiveness of weekly price lists.
This week, live chicken prices were officially fixed at Rs 394-408 per kg; however, the product remained largely unavailable at these prices. Chicken meat, pegged at Rs 591 per kg, was sold at Rs 660 to Rs 700, while boneless chicken fetched over Rs 1,000 per kg in several districts.
A similar trend was observed in vegetable markets. New sweet-skinned potatoes were priced at Rs 18-20 per kg but sold at Rs 30-40, while tomatoes, whose official price was Rs 70-75, were available at Rs 120-160 per kg. Onion, fixed at Rs 70-75, continued to sell at Rs 100-130 per kg.
The gap has widened for essential kitchen inputs. Local garlic, priced at Rs 167-175 per kg, was retailing at Rs 220-250, while the Chinese variety fetched Rs 600 per kg against the official rate of Rs 475-495. Ginger, priced at Rs 262-275, was sold at Rs 400-450 per kg.
Other vegetables reflected similar disparities. Brinjal, priced at Rs 66-70 per kg, was being sold at Rs 120-140 per kg, while bitter gourd, whose official price was Rs 142-150 per kg, was retailing at Rs 250-300 per kg. Spinach, priced at Rs 23 to 25 per kg, was sold at Rs 60 to 80 per kg.
Zucchini, cucumbers, lemons and peppers also saw sharp deviations from official rates, while several products, including mongray and mustard greens, were largely unavailable despite being listed in official price notifications.
Fruit markets showed equally wide variations. Apples, priced between Rs270 and Rs440 per kg, sold between Rs350 and Rs700 depending on quality and variety. Bananas were above official prices by as much as Rs 100 per dozen, while dates – a key commodity during Ramazan – were being sold at Rs 800-1,200 per kg against official prices of Rs 360-475.
Citrus fruits have also remained out of reach for many consumers. Kinnow, priced at Rs 220-335 per dozen, retailed at Rs 450-700, while pomegranates fetched over Rs 1,000 per kg despite significantly lower official rates.
Citizens and market observers attribute this continued mismatch to weak implementation and limited oversight of neighborhood markets, where the majority of consumers shop.
While authorities continue to push inspections and fines, merchants often return to overcharging shortly after officials leave. In many cases, penalties are considered a routine cost of doing business, which is ultimately passed on to consumers.
“There is no real control in the markets. The authorities come, fine and leave. After that, everything becomes the same again,” said Rafique Ahmed, a buyer.
For citizens, the impact is immediate and severe, particularly for low- and middle-income households already struggling with broader economic pressures.
“The prices are out of control. We check the official list, but nothing is available at these rates,” said Muhammad Imran, a resident of Lahore. “Our expenses continue to increase, but our income does not.”
Another shopper, Farzana Bibi, said families were being forced to cut back on essential purchases. “We now buy fewer vegetables and fruits. Even basic products are becoming unaffordable,” she said.
Experts suggest that without constant monitoring, tougher penalties for repeated violations and better supply chain management, the current system is unlikely to provide significant relief.
As post-Eid demand stabilizes, the coming weeks will show whether official rate lists will continue to exist largely as symbolic documents with little impact on the day-to-day realities of the market.
