Discrepancy between market and government rates sparks consumer outrage
Lahore – August 4, 2025
Despite fresh pledges and newly launched mechanisms to control food inflation, residents across Punjab are still paying sky-high prices for everyday essentials — raising serious doubts about the effectiveness of the government’s efforts.
This past week, visits to various local markets revealed a disturbing trend: the official price lists put out by the administration seem to have little bearing on what consumers are actually charged. Poultry, vegetables, and fruits — all staple items — are being sold at rates that far exceed the government’s prescribed limits.
Take poultry, for instance. Authorities slashed the official price of live chicken by Rs15, setting it between Rs374 and Rs388 per kilogram. But many shoppers in Lahore reported paying as much as Rs480. Chicken meat, officially listed at Rs562, was selling for anywhere between Rs570 and Rs640. Boneless chicken crossed the Rs1,000 mark, with some vendors quoting Rs1,200 per kilogram — a figure that has stunned many middle-class households.
Vegetables told a similar story. A-grade soft-skin potatoes, pegged officially at Rs80–85, were commonly priced at Rs140–150 in open markets. Onions, supposed to retail at Rs50–55, were being sold for up to Rs100 per kg. Tomatoes, a kitchen essential, jumped from the official Rs82–90 to an eye-watering Rs150 in some areas.
Garlic and ginger — both heavily used in daily cooking — were among the most glaring examples of price gouging. While the official price of garlic hovered between Rs210 and Rs260 per kilogram, market prices shot up to Rs400. Ginger, listed by the authorities at Rs400–460, was spotted at Rs600–700 per kg — a level simply out of reach for many families.
Other vegetables followed suit: cucumbers were seen at Rs200/kg, brinjals at Rs150, bitter gourd at Rs220, and ladyfinger at Rs240 — all significantly above government-set prices. Items like spinach, pumpkin, zucchini, lemon, and arum were also overpriced by Rs30–100 per kilogram, depending on the area and quality.
Fruits, which once offered a reprieve to consumers during high inflation periods, have now joined the unaffordability crisis. Apples, fixed at Rs145–265 per kg depending on variety, were selling for up to Rs350. Bananas saw a price spike of Rs50–90 above official rates, while guavas and papayas were either too costly or simply unavailable. Grapes and mangoes — both summer favourites — reached Rs500 per kg for premium varieties, despite slight government adjustments to their price caps.
But perhaps the most shocking jump came in the price of dates. While the official rate ranged from Rs460 to Rs490 per kilogram, some markets listed high-end varieties for a staggering Rs2,000 — nearly quadruple the sanctioned price.
For many families, especially those earning fixed or modest incomes, this growing gap between government claims and market realities has become a source of daily stress. Despite renewed efforts to crack down on hoarding and price manipulation, the lack of on-ground enforcement appears to be emboldening profiteers.
Until strict and consistent implementation follows these well-meaning price policies, ordinary citizens may continue to bear the burden — paying more for less while the gap between official promises and market truths grows wider by the day.
