Lahore, By Jawwad Rizvi

LAHORE: Government-notified price reductions continued to offer little relief to consumers in Lahore as retail prices of essential food items remained substantially higher than official rates, exposing persistent weaknesses in the city’s price-control system.

Despite cuts in the notified prices of several vegetables, including cauliflower, capsicum, carrots and peas, consumers continued to pay considerably more at retail outlets. The widening gap between official rates and market prices raises serious questions about the effectiveness of inspections and enforcement by the district administration.

The poultry rates were again increased this week. However, the official rates remained disconnected from actual retail rates. Live chicken official rates were up by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs379–393 per kg, while chicken by Rs22 per kg, fixed at Rs570 per kg, but live birds remained largely unsold across the city and chicken meat continued to retail at Rs600–680 per kg. Boneless chicken was even more expensive at Rs950–11,00 per kg, leaving consumers to pay considerably more than the notified rates.

Mixed trend in the official rates of the vegetable was recorded this week as majority of perishable rates were downed. However, it was not reflected in the consumer prices due to massive overcharging by the sellers.

Potatoes sugar-free was further gained by Rs7 per kg, fixed at Rs38-42 per kg, yet sold at Rs60–80 per kg. Tomatoes price unchanged at Rs100–130 per kg, retailed between Rs220-240 per kg. Official Onion prices were surged by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs195–205 per kg but continued to sell between Rs230-250 per kg.

Among essentials, local garlic up by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs220–230 per kg but retailed at Rs300–320 per kg. Chinese garlic sold at Rs800 against the price of Rs400-420 per kg, while Harani garlic downed by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs325–340 per kg and fetched Rs500–600 per kg.

Ginger Thai up by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs370-385 per kg, China ginger at Rs315–330 per kg and, both sold at Rs400-500 per kg. Farm cucumbers unchanged at Rs57–60 per kg but sold at Rs100-120 per kg. Brinjal downed by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs66–70 per kg, but retailed at Rs120–140 per kg, while bitter gourd downed by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs142–150 per kg but sold up to Rs200-250 per kg.

Spinach price also unchanged at Rs38–40 per kg, though consumers paid Rs80–100 per kg. Local zucchini went up by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs162-170 per kg, sold at Rs220-250 per kg, Farm zucchini was sold at Rs150-180 per kg. Chinese Lemon also downed by Rs15 per kg, fixed at Rs65-70 per kg, sold at Rs130-200 per kg, Pumpkin reduced by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs133–140 per kg but sold at Rs200–250 per kg.

Ladyfinger stable at Rs133–140 per kg but retailed at Rs200–250 per kg. Lufa was unchanged at Rs114-120 per kg, sold at Rs150-180 per kg. Green chilies stable at Rs114–120 per kg yet sold at Rs150–200 per kg, while capsicum downed by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs172–180 per kg but fetched Rs250-300 per kg.

Cauliflower also further reduced by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs85–90 per kg but sold at Rs120-150 per kg, while cabbage fixed at Rs133–140 per kg and retailed at Rs180–200 per kg.

Chinese carrots downed up by Rs20 per kg, fixed at Rs142–150 per kg but sold at Rs240–280 per kg, Carrot local reduced by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs85-90 per kg, sold at Rs150-180 per kg. Pea prices also downed by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs335-350 per kg, sold at Rs400-450 per kg. Methi price was downed by Rs30 per kg, fixed at Rs105-110 per kg, sold at Rs150-200 per kg. Beans were fixed at Rs80-130 per kg, sold at Rs200-300 per kg. Fruit prices also remained high.

The price of different variety of apples was fixed between Rs210-405 per kg but sold at Rs300–600 per kg. Banana prices continued to exceed official rates, A-Grade was fixed at Rs142-160 per dozen, sold at Rs200-250 per dozen, B-grade fixed at Rs120-130 per dozen, sold at Rs150-180 per dozen. Dates rates were fixed at Rs310-435 per kg, sold between Rs800 and Rs2,400 per kg. Papaya was stable at Rs267-280 per kg, sold at Rs200-400 per kg.

Pomegranate Kandhari further gained by Rs50 per kg, fixed at Rs505-530 per kg, sold at Rs600-700 per kg, Pomegranate danedar was up by Rs60 per kg, fixed at Rs627-655 per kg, sold at Rs800 per kg. Sweet lime was fixed at Rs190-200 per dozen, sold at Rs300-350 per dozen. Grapes Gola was fixed at Rs267-280 per kg, sold at Rs400-500 per kg, SundarKhani grapes fixed at Rs611-640 per kg, sold at Rs800-1000 per kg, grapes tofi was fixed at Rs452-475 per kg, sold at Rs800 per kg.

Persimmon was fixed at Rs240-250 per kg, sold at Rs250-350 per kg. Guava was fixed at Rs230-240 per kg, sold at Rs250-300 per kg. Grapefruit was fixed at Rs29-30 per piece, sold at Rs40-50 per piece. Musami was fixed at Rs157-165 per dozen, sold at Rs180-200 per kg. Sweet potato was fixed at Rs91-95 per kg, sold at Rs130-150 per kg. Waternut was fixed at Rs147-155 per kg, sold at Rs180-200 per kg.

Published Date: October 26, 2026