LAHORE, Oct 12: Prices of most vegetables and fruits registered an increase compared to last week’s at all the Sunday bazaars set up by the City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) to provide subsidised edibles to people.

The number of customers was comparatively higher than last Sunday’s when most of these makeshift markets, arranged soon after Eid holidays, wore a deserted look in areas like Shadman Link Road, Wahdat Colony, Baghbanpura, Shadbagh, GT Road (near Shalamar Gardens), Tajpura, Begum Kot, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Moon Market, Model Town's R Block, Green Town, Wapda Town's G Block, Jallo Morr, Ravi Road and Rangers Headquarters.

Flour was available in almost all makeshift markets at Rs420 per 20-kilo bag but customers seemed least interested in buying the commodity because it was now easily available in the open market.

The quality of fruits and vegetables remained below the standard in Tajpura, near Shalamar Bagh, Shadbagh, Green Town and Shahdara makeshift markets where vendors continued selling B-grade items at the prices of A-graders.

Chicken meat was being sold in Sunday bazaars at Rs145 per kilo while in the open market it was available between Rs140 to Rs142 per kilo.

Tomato price registered a considerable decrease after resumption of import from India. The official prices of tomatoes were fixed between Rs24 and Rs28 against last week’s Rs47 and Rs57 per kilo. In most Sunday bazaars, tomatoes were sold between Rs26 and Rs27 per kilo.

The official prices of onion were fixed between Rs22 and Rs26 against last week’s Rs20 and Rs25 per kilo. However, onions were sold at Rs26 per kilo at these markets while in the open market it was available between Rs28 and Rs30 per kilo.

The price of new potato was fixed between Rs22 and Rs28 per kilo against last week’s Rs26 and Rs30 per kilo and that of stored between Rs14 and Rs18 against previous Sunday’s Rs14 and Rs16 per kilo. In the open market, potatoes were sold between Rs28 and Rs32 per kilo.

China garlic’s prices were fixed between Rs27 and Rs32 against last week’s Rs22 and Rs27 per kilo and of local garlic between Rs20 and Rs26 from last Sunday’s Rs17 and Rs22 per kilo.

China ginger’s prices were fixed between Rs72 and Rs80 per kilo and those of Thailand’s between Rs57 and Rs62 per kilo against last week’s Rs47 and Rs52 per kilo.

Cucumber prices were fixed between Rs42 and Rs62 against last week’s Rs32 and Rs42 per kilo; ladyfinger between Rs37 and Rs44 against previous week’s Rs22 and Rs30 per kilo; bitter gourd between Rs37 and Rs47 against last week’s Rs32 and Rs36 per kilo; pumpkin between Rs42 and Rs52 against last week’s Rs22 and Rs26 per kilo. The vegetables were missing from most Sunday Bazaars.

The prices of peas were fixed between Rs72 and Rs88 per kilo but were sold at most makeshift markets between Rs80 and Rs85 per kilo.

Green chilli prices were fixed between Rs17 and Rs22 from last week’s Rs18 and Rs24 per kilo; lemon (China) between Rs32 and Rs42 from last week’s Rs32 and Rs47 per kilo and lemon (local) between Rs72 and Rs102 per kilo.

The prices of cauliflower were fixed between Rs28 and Rs36 against last week’s Rs18 and Rs22 per kilo and cabbages between Rs20 and Rs22 from Rs22 to Rs28 per kilo of last Sunday.

Spinach prices were fixed between Rs10 and Rs14 from Rs7 to Rs9 per kilo; radish between Rs8 and Rs12 per kilo; carrot between Rs28 and Rs36 per kilo; brinjal between Rs22 and Rs26 against Rs7 and Rs9 per kilo of last Sunday.

Apple prices ranged between Rs16 and Rs64 against Rs26 and Rs64 per kilo but the fruit was available between Rs40 and Rs50 per kilo at most makeshift markets.

Banana prices ranged between Rs17 and Rs37 from last week’s Rs14 and Rs48 per dozen but the fruit was sold at Sunday bazaars between Rs30 and Rs35 per dozen.

The prices of pomegranate were fixed between Rs52 and Rs102 per kilo but most vendors sold it between Rs65 and Rs70 per kilo. Grapes prices were fixed between Rs80 and Rs142 against last week’s Rs72 and Rs132 per kilo, but were available between Rs85 and Rs90 per kilo. The prices of guava ranged between Rs22 and Rs32 per kilo.