On the first day of Ramadan, citizens in Lahore are facing a surge in the prices of essential items, including vegetables, fruits, and meat.

The price of basic vegetables has risen sharply, with items like potatoes, onions, and tomatoes seeing significant hikes.

Fruits, too, are becoming unaffordable, with apples and bananas selling at nearly double the normal price. Meat prices have also escalated, with chicken and mutton selling at record highs.

Among the vegetables, potatoes, which were previously priced at Rs45 per kilogram, are now being sold for Rs80 to Rs100. Onions, which were Rs70, have risen to Rs120, tomatoes have increased from Rs40 to Rs100, and garlic has shot up from Rs600 to Rs800 per kilogram.

Ginger now costs Rs600 per kilogram instead of Rs370, while other vegetables such as Shimla mirch, okra, methi, and bitter gourd are selling for Rs300, Rs100, and Rs300 per kilogram, respectively.

As for fruits, apples are selling at Rs400 per kilogram, bananas at Rs300 per dozen, and dates have reached price of Rs1000 per kilogram. Melons are being sold for Rs250 to Rs300 each.

Meat prices have also surged, with chicken selling for Rs625 per kilogram, mutton at Rs2500, and beef at Rs1200 per kilogram.

In response to this, Assistant Commissioners, acting as Price Control Magistrates, have been tasked with tackling the issue of profiteering.

Deputy Commissioner Lahore, Syed Musa Raza, has ordered a crackdown on those responsible for price hikes, with the assurance of heavy fines and imprisonment for repeat offenders.

The public has called on the Punjab government and local authorities to take immediate steps to control the inflationary trends, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.