Lahore Food Prices Stay Above Official Rates

Consumers across Lahore continued to face elevated food prices during the week as retail rates for vegetables, fruits, and poultry remained substantially higher than the official prices notified by the district administration, highlighting persistent challenges in market enforcement and price regulation.

Despite the issuance of updated government price lists, retailers continued selling a wide range of essential food commodities above the prescribed rates, resulting in a significant gap between officially notified prices and prevailing market prices.

The continued disparity comes despite recent reductions in petrol and diesel prices, which were expected to reduce transportation costs and ease pricing pressure on perishable food items.

Among poultry products, official prices recorded a downward revision during the week. The government reduced the official rate for live chicken by Rs25 per kilogram, fixing it between Rs274 and Rs288 per kg. Similarly, the official price of chicken meat was lowered by Rs36 per kilogram to Rs417 per kg.

However, retail markets continued to charge substantially higher rates, with chicken meat selling between Rs470 and Rs520 per kg, while boneless chicken remained available at approximately Rs800 to Rs850 per kg.

Vegetable prices also remained well above official benchmarks. New soft-skin potatoes increased by Rs5 per kg in the official notification to Rs37–40 per kg but were sold at Rs60–80 per kg in retail markets.

Tomatoes recorded one of the sharpest increases, with the official rate rising by Rs40 per kg to Rs160–170 per kg, whereas consumers paid between Rs220 and Rs280 per kg.

Official onion prices increased by Rs5 per kg to Rs85–90 per kg, although market prices ranged from Rs100 to Rs130 per kg.

Local garlic was officially fixed at Rs130–135 per kg following a Rs5 increase, yet retailers charged between Rs180 and Rs200 per kg.

Chinese garlic, officially priced at Rs320–335 per kg, continued to sell at approximately Rs500 per kg, while Harani garlic, fixed at Rs235–245 per kg, was available in the market at Rs320–400 per kg.

Thai ginger increased by Rs15 per kg under the official price list to Rs295–310 per kg but remained available in retail markets at Rs400–450 per kg.

Farm cucumbers retained their official rate of Rs95–100 per kg, although consumers paid Rs140–150 per kg. Local cucumbers, officially priced at Rs47–50 per kg, continued to retail between Rs120 and Rs130 per kg.

Local lemons were officially fixed at Rs133–140 per kg but sold between Rs150 and Rs250 per kg across different markets.

Pumpkin prices declined by Rs10 per kg in the official notification to Rs57–60 per kg, while actual market prices remained between Rs80 and Rs120 per kg. Ladyfinger also recorded an official reduction of Rs20 per kg to Rs76–80 per kg, although retailers continued selling it at Rs120–130 per kg.

Fruit prices similarly exceeded official rates. Apples, officially priced between Rs105 and Rs380 per kg depending on quality, were commonly available at Rs250–600 per kg.

A-grade bananas carried an official price of Rs193–215 per dozen but were sold at Rs300–350 per dozen. B-grade bananas, officially fixed at Rs125–140 per dozen, were available at Rs220–250 per dozen.

Dates, officially priced between Rs360 and Rs470 per kg, were sold in markets for approximately Rs800–2,400 per kg depending on variety and quality.

Official prices for different varieties of mangoes ranged from Rs120 to Rs300 per kg, while retail rates generally varied between Rs200 and Rs450 per kg.

Plums registered an official increase of Rs30 per kg to Rs410–430 per kg, with market prices fluctuating between Rs350 and Rs500 per kg.

Watermelon remained officially priced at Rs37–40 per kg but sold between Rs70 and Rs100 per kg. Litchi increased by Rs40 per kg in the official notification to Rs625–655 per kg, while consumers paid approximately Rs700–800 per kg in retail markets.

Cantaloupe carried an official rate of Rs115–120 per kg but was sold between Rs150 and Rs180 per kg. Likewise, peaches were officially priced at Rs210–280 per kg, whereas retail prices ranged from Rs250 to Rs350 per kg.

The continued difference between notified and prevailing market prices underscores ongoing enforcement challenges and suggests that consumers have yet to experience meaningful relief in food inflation despite easing fuel costs.