Tomatoes were sold at Rs100 per kg, potatoes Rs100 per kg while onions price stood at Rs80
Abdul Hakeem Mohmand
PESHAWAR
Prices of vegetables have soared in Peshawar at a time when income of small businessmen and daily wagers have considerably dropped due to crisis sparked by Covid-19.
A survey conducted by Daily Lead Pakistan in Peshawar’s vegetables market revealed that tomatoes were sold at Rs100 per kg, potatoes were also being sold at Rs100 per kg while onions price stood at Rs80.
Prices of other vegetables have also skyrocketed over the past few days with not a single item of daily consumption being sold at a price affordable to the poor and down-trodden class. “Gone are the days when you get green chilies and coriander for free with any vegetable,” said Khurshed Ali, a daily wager.
Rafia Bibi, a housewife from Peshawar’s Afghan Colony complained, “On one end people have become jobless due Corona and failed policies of PM Imran Khan’s government while on the other increasing prices of essential commodities have made our lives miserable.” “This government has no check over the markets. Prices of vegetables have gone so high that you have to think twice before buying them,” she said.
Said Gulab, a rickshaw driver, however, lamented, “I hardly earn Rs500 per day. I wonder whether to buy vegetables or bread for my four kids.”
Vegetable vendors expressed grave concern over the lockdown at various parts of the country, which, according to them, was the main reason for price hike of commodities of daily usage.
