According to traders in Lahore's wholesale markets, the number of trucks arriving daily at major hubs such as Badami Bagh, Multan Road, and Singhpura has fallen by 50 per cent. This decline has driven sharp increases in vegetable prices.
"The prices of vegetables, especially high-demand items like onions and tomatoes, have increased by at least 50%. The situation may worsen if the fields and roads remain submerged in the coming weeks," said Saddam Athar Khan, Secretary General of the Anjuman-e-Tajiran, Badami Bagh Fruit and Vegetable Market.
He noted that Lahore, with a population of 13 million, relies heavily on supplies from nearby districts as well as Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. "We are not receiving ample supplies of onions, lemons, and even ordinary vegetables like gourds from outside Lahore because large areas remain inundated," he said in comments to Wealth Pakistan.
Supplies of apples, bananas, and other seasonal fruits from other provinces have also been disrupted, adding further pressure on prices. Athar cautioned that Pakistan may eventually have to import vegetables, fruits, and cereals to meet demand.
In response to complaints of profiteering, the Punjab government has established supply monitoring committees to curb hoarding and price manipulation. "We are closely monitoring the supply of high-demand vegetables like potatoes, onions, and tomatoes, though other commodities are not being ignored," said Ehsan Bhutta, Secretary of Price Control, Punjab. "We will not allow profiteers to exploit people during these trying times. Severe punishments will be handed out."
He added that raids are being conducted on warehouses and godowns to ensure that relatively less perishable commodities such as potatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger are not hoarded.
Source: INP
