By Mushtaq Raza
Vegetable prices in Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil and nearby areas have soared, pushing basic food items beyond the reach of the public. Tomatoes now sell for Rs. 400 per kilogram, ginger for Rs. 1000, and garlic for Rs. 600. Within just a week, cucumbers jumped from Rs. 100 to Rs. 300 per kilogram. Likewise, a bunch of coriander or mint that cost Rs. 50 now costs up to Rs. 200, while lemons have reached a staggering Rs. 1200 per kilogram.
According to the Market Committee, the official rate of tomatoes is Rs. 105 per kilogram. However, shopkeepers argue that wholesale dealers are charging Rs. 350 per kilogram, forcing them to sell at much higher prices. Similarly, cucumbers, green chilies, coriander, and mint are all being sold at double the official rate. Retailers complain that authorities expect them to sell at half the cost, which they claim is impossible.
Meanwhile, profiteers have taken advantage of the flood situation, while weak administrative checks allow exploitation to continue. Housewives say even cooking daily meals has become a challenge. At the same time, the working class struggles to arrange food twice a day. Citizens have therefore urged the government to intervene immediately and bring prices under control.
