Food prices up ahead of Eid

LAHORE - The prices of vegetables, meat and fruits have swelled to a considerable extent in the provincial metropolis ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr owing to the high demand and inadequate supply, market dealers said on Monday.

The market sources hinted further increase in the food prices during Eid holidays in the City as according to them the demand is increasing day by day.

The fruits and vegetable market dealers said the increasing transportation cost and rising demand as compared to the supply are the major factors behind the increase in the prices of fruits and vegetables as the demand of both the food items soared to a reasonable extent during Eid days. “Every year the prices of vegetables and fruits shoot up ahead of Eid because the market dealers start selling food items on high prices to the vendors. Consequently, the vendors are left with no other option but to charge high price from the consumers,” Mushtaq Khan a vendor said.

He further said the poor check of the authorities concerned was the main reason behind the price-hike. “The market committee officials and the other departments check and impose fine only on vendors while they should also check the brokers and dealers to control the prices, he maintained.