Up to 80 percent price hike registered in all varieties of fruits

The sky-rocketing prices of fruits in wholesale and retail markets have pushing the buyers beyond their purchasing power, as registering an hike of 70 to 80 percent in all varieties of fruits during the first 10 days of the holy month of Ramazan.

With the beginning of holy month, the vendors have increased prices of almost all varieties of fruits which are commonly used during ‘Iftar’ by the faithfuls, as prices continually surging up in anticipation of high demand by the buyers. 

Fruits are staple diet usually their demand increase in this important month, but the prices are increased suddenly and totally out of purchase of salaried and daily wage class.

Fasting consumers are forced to settle for higher prices after a little bargaining because they didn’t have stamina for protracted argument.

According to survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Thursday, it was noticed that the prices of apples, mangoes, peaches, bananas and dates were registered 50 to 80 percent increase in wholesale and retail markets.

The vendors and merchants are swindling faithful in the absence of official prices, as consumers are at the mercy of profiteers during the whole month of Ramazan.

The fruits vendors displayed official prices list as majority they said that the government did not issue price list during the holy month, whereas government officials are not seen in the market to check overpricing. Banana is being available at Rs 100 per dozen, which was selling at Rs 50-60 per dozen before the start of the holy month.

Similarly, Mango is being sold at Rs 100/kg against Rs 80/kg.

The price of grapes also increased manifold as available at Rs 200-250 per/kg, while apricot is being soled at Rs 200 and Rs 150 against Rs 100/kg. Peach is being sold at Rs 80 against Rs 60/kg, while banana is available at Rs 100-80 per/dozen against Rs 40 and Rs 50 per/dozen. Muskmelon is being sold at Rs 50/kg, watermelon is being available at Rs 80/piece.

The buyers complained that the due to unchecked of prices of fruits and other essential commodities in the holy month, the prices are going up by each passing day. They said that vendors are squeezing them with high rates all varieties of fruits, including melon, banana, watermelon, apple, and grape.

The arbitrary hike in prices of essential commodities and fruits had totally unjust with them, said Ibrahim Khan, a buyer, while purchasing mangoes at a pushcart.

He added that the vendors recover profit of entire 11 months in just one month. “Is it possible for a salaried class and poor daily wage earner enjoy this luxury in the holy month,” Zile Humma, a housewife while purchasing fruit items.

She demanded the city district government to issue proper price list and take action against the profiteers, who are swindling faithful with high prices in the holy month.

Khalid Khan, a fruit wholesaler at Hashtnagri market said, the quantity of fruits he used to supply to the retailers has gone up by 35 to 45 percent. “Fortunately this year, the production of apples is not very good in Swat, from where we get our stock.

Despite huge supply of apples of two qualities, he said prices are registered high with advent of season, and he further said most of fruit items are exported to neighbouring Afghanistan, which causes high prices in the local market.

Though, he said, there was a good supply complimented by a good demand, still the prices are rising with every passing day due to expenses, taxes and other transportation charges.

He blamed retailers for charging exorbitant rates of fruits from helpless consumer, which is left at the mercy of profiteers in the absence of any mechanism by the concerned department of the City District Government Peshawar to check unlawful activities of such elements.