Rain, high prices keep buyers away

RAWALPINDI, April 17: An upward trend was observed in the prices of fruits and vegetables at the weekly bazaars. And the rain cut down the number of customers on Sunday. Rainwater accumulated at various places which created problems for the vendors and shoppers. Most of the bazaars have been established along nullahs and are surrounded by pools of dirty water and heaps of garbage. There is also parking problem in the weekly bazaars. Thousands of people visit the bazaars for purchasing vegetables and fruits but they have no option except parking their vehicles along the roads. Visitors to the weekly bazaars frequently complain about lack of cleanliness and unavailability of parking spaces. "There is no difference between the prices at the weekly bazaars and the retail markets. The stallholders are selling edibles at higher prices without any check," said Mohammad Faheem, a shopper at Committee Chowk. Inayat Shah, another shopper, said the sanitation condition in the weekly bazaars was very poor as the market administration seldom swept the ground or removed the garbage. Rasheed Ahmed said vendors did not allow anyone to choose items from their stocks and provided them rotten vegetables and fruits. During a visit to the seven Sunday bazaars, this reporter observed that rates of vegetables, fruits and essential food items had gone up. These included potatoes, onion, cabbage, cauliflower, green pepper, apples, guava and banana and poultry products. Onion was selling at Rs22 per kg compared to last week`s Rs20 per kg, potato at Rs24 per kg against Rs22 per kg, tomato Rs32 per kg against Rs28 per kg, fine quality of carrot at Rs25 per kg compared to last week`s Rs15 per kg, bitter gourd at Rs54 compared to last week`s Rs50 per kg, green pepper at Rs36 compared to last week`s Rs30 per kg, brinjle at Rs32 against last week`s Rs26 per kg and turnip at Rs14 per kg against last week`s Rs12 per kg. Apples were available at Rs110 per kg compared to last week`s Rs95 per kg, pear at Rs100 per kg against last week`s Rs90 per kg, banana at Rs55 per dozen compared to last week`s Rs50 per dozen, guava at Rs60 per kg compared to last week`s Rs55 per kg and cantaloupe at Rs55 per kg against Rs50 per kg last week.