A fresh wave of frustration is sweeping across Punjab as food prices continue to climb, despite the government’s formation of new price control bodies aimed at curbing inflation.
Consumers report widespread overcharging in markets, where basic food items—vegetables, poultry, and fruits—are routinely being sold well above their officially fixed prices.
In poultry markets, the discrepancy was especially glaring. While the government revised the price of live chicken to Rs374–388 per kg, shopkeepers were selling it for Rs450–480. Officially, chicken meat should cost Rs562 per kg, but most consumers paid between Rs570 and Rs640, while boneless cuts were being sold for up to Rs1,200 per kg.
Vegetable prices told a similar story:
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Potatoes (A-grade): Fixed at Rs80–85, but sold for Rs140–150.
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Onions: Supposed to cost Rs50–55, but priced at Rs100.
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Tomatoes: Shot up from Rs90 to Rs150 per kg.
Even common kitchen staples like garlic and ginger witnessed massive markups:
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Garlic: From an official Rs210–260 to a market rate of Rs400 per kg.
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Ginger: Crossed Rs600–700, despite fixed rates of Rs400–460.
Other essential vegetables including brinjal, cucumber, bitter gourd, and ladyfinger saw price hikes ranging from Rs50 to Rs100 over their official tags. Leafy greens and seasonal items like pumpkin and zucchini were also affected.
The fruit market offered no relief either:
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Apples officially capped at Rs265 sold for up to Rs350.
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Bananas priced Rs50–90 higher than official rates.
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Dates saw the most dramatic spike: fixed at Rs490, but sold for an eye-watering Rs2,000 per kg.
Shoppers say even moderately priced fruits like melon, guava, and papaya are either missing or unaffordable, while grapes and mangoes touched Rs500 per kg despite minor revisions in fixed rates.
Consumers and advocacy groups are urging the government to take stricter enforcement action, accusing market committees of failing to regulate prices and letting profiteering go unchecked.