Prices of different vegetables such as Tomato, Okra (bhindi), Pea (matar) & Lettuce (salad pata) have increased in the vegetable market of Karachi. The increase in prices started form past few days but no action was taken by any government department or administration.
It is being said that the prices have increase because of the shortage of certain vegetables from the market because of destruction of crops. Earlier we reported about the hike in onion prices which have now decreased because of imports from India & Afghanistan.
Peas are being sold in the market at a rate of Rs. 230/kg while earlier it was being sold for Rs. 130 only. Lettuce is available in the market at a cost of Rs. 130, Tomatoes are available at a rate of Rs. 108. Price of almost every vegetable has increased.
Okra is available at a rate of Rs. 86 which is marginally increased. The only reduction was in the price of onion which was once sold at Rs. 120 but is now available at Rs. 64.The normalization of prices was because of imports.
The chairman of market committee claimed that this increase in price is because of shortage of vegetables. He explained that the vegetable supply from Punjab is decreased because the crop is ending while in Sindh & Balochistan the growth was affected because rain destroyed crops in the provinces.
Citizens were very disappointed on the increased prices which came as a sudden shock after the normalization of onion prices. As earlier no action was taken by Karachi administration or government authorities which are promoting further increase.
In marts such Metro & Naheed the cost of vegetables is even higher while in budget markets or ‘Bachat Bazaar’ the quality of vegetables is not good. Bachat Bazaar are held in different areas of city of different days such as Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Friday