Vendors blame wholesale traders for soaring prices

Shopkeepers and fruit vendors at Defence Market blamed Mandi traders for the increase in rates of vegetables and fruits, and demanded that government officials should keep a strict tab on traders to control the situation of over- pricing which has frequently been reported in the city.

Speaking to The News, vegetable and fruit vendors said: “We are forced to sell the commodities at prices higher than the fixed prices, since the Mandi traders sell fruits and vegetables to us at higher prices than those stipulated by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK).

“When we ask them to sell commodities at prices which comply with the price list, they (traders) tell us to follow their demands, else they won’t supply us fruits and vegetables,”said a fruit vendor.

Citing examples, a vendor said: “On the very first day of Ramazan, we got one kg guava at a price of Rs 85 from the Mandi, whereas its actual price mentioned in the list is Rs 41. However to cope up with the soaring prices, we sold it at Rs 80. Similarly, two days ago, we got 1kg grapes for Rs 116 rates from the mandi, so how can the government expect us to follow the price list which has fixed the rate of grapes at Rs 60 per kg. Also, in the Mandi, we got one kg watermelon for

Rs 18 although it is supposed to be sold at Rs 12. Now we are selling it at Rs 20.”

The vendors also stated that before making and issuing the price list, the government should check whether the sellers at the Mandi are following the list. “Raids are conducted at our markets and we suffer. People blame us for soaring prices, whereas no official ever goes to the Mandi to check and conduct raids there.”

The vendors also said that when raids are conducted, officials misbehave with people. Altamash, a vegetable vendor said: “On the first day, when the officials came to raid our market, the magistrate misbehaved and charged everyone Rs 5,000 fine for overpricing. On the second day, an unidentified official along with a security guard and policemen came and demanded fruits and vegetables from us free of cost. However when one of them slapped me, the rest of the vendors cornered them and they fled away.”Kala Khan, a fruit vendor said.