Fruit, vegetable prices increase

ISLAMABAD: Prices of fruit and vegetables have increased at Sasta and weekly bazaars of the Federal Capital.

The rate list of different fruit and vegetables displyed at Sasta bazaars by the District Administration Tuesday showed that the prices of fruit and vegetables had gone up as compared to the last week.

Onions were being sold for Rs 37 per kilogram, potatoes Rs 28 per kg, tomato Rs 86 per kg, ginger Rs 132 per kg, ladyfinger Rs 38 per kg, peas Rs 95 per kg, oumpkin Rs 28 per kg, cauliflower Rs 38 per kg, cabbage Rs 58 per kg, cucumber Rs 20 per kg, bitter gourd Rs 28 per kg, turnip Rs 22 per kg, carrot Rs 48 per kg, green chilly Rs 58 per kg, and Shimla Mirch Rs 48 per kg.

Likewise, apple was available for Rs 150-220 per kg, apple (gaja) Rs 65-110 per kg, apple (white) Rs 38-88 per kg, Baanana Rs 55-125 a dozen, mango (Sindhri) Rs 38-88 per kg, mango (white Chonsa) Rs 48-98 per kg, plum Rs 58-118 per kg, peach Rs 48-98 per kg, apricot Rs 58-118 per kg, grapes Rs 110-180 per kg and garma Rs 35-55 per kg.

People usually buy fruit and other edible items from the weekly and Sasta bazaars due their comparitively low rates. However, some vendors were found selling low quality fruit and vegetables at the bazaars.

Sana Ullah, a shopper, said he bought two kilogram tomatoes from the H-9 weekly bazaar but some of those were rotten.

He said the stall holders did not allow the customers to choose vegetables and fruit themselves, but they also used black plastic bags to cheat them (customers). .

Another customer Rab Nawaz urged the bazaar authorities to take notice of the situation. He demanded that strict action should be taken against the vendors, who were selling low quality items.

When contacted, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials at H-9 weekly bazaar said that the customers could register their complains with them. They warned the stall holders of strict action, including imposition of fine, for selling rotten fruit and vegetables.

They said that CDA had launched a special campaign for checking the quality of fruit and vegetables at all the weekly bazaars.

A senior official of the District Administration said that their staff remained present at the Sasta bazaars for checking the quality and prices of the food items.