PESHAWAR, Oct 14: The local traders have increased prices of vegetables and fruits manifold ahead of Eidul Azha.

During a visit to the market, it was observed that prices of various items had been revised during the last two days.

Five kilograms red potatoes were available at Rs250 on Saturday but the price was increased to Rs330 on Monday.

Likewise, the price of white potatoes was increased from Rs120 to Rs160.

It was observed during the visit that price of five kilograms cauliflower was increased from Rs230 to Rs250, arum from Rs180 to Rs200 and carrot from Rs250 to Rs400.

The price of five kilograms chilly was increased from Rs250 to Rs580, lady fingers from Rs150 to Rs250, onion from Rs180 to Rs220, gourd from Rs100 to Rs200, bitter gourd from Rs200 to Rs250, tomato from Rs230 to Rs270 and Shimla chilly from Rs600 to Rs700.Likewise, the price of different categories of grapes was increased at least by Rs80 per kilogram as most of the verities were sold at Rs160 to rs180 per kilogram while the price of per kilogram apple was increased from Rs80 to Rs130.

`We are also compelled to increase the prices as the wholesalers have revised rates in the fruit market,` said Naseer, a vendor at Nauthia. He added that they had to buy fruits and vegetables at the main wholesale market because vendors could not afford to take part in the auction.

The vendor said that wholesalers had revised rates of all items due to the upcoming Eidul Azha because there would be holidays and shopkeepers had to stock every item for the next few days.

Mr Naseer said that there was no check from the administration on the process of auction in the wholesale market otherwise the rates would have not increased. He said that many wholesalers hoarded different items like chiliesand onion etc to earn more on the occasion of Eid.

Shehzad, another fruit vendor, said that they had nothing to do with increase in prices as the rates were fixed by the wholesalers. He said that administration was least bothered to take action against the profiteers.

An official of Municipal Corporation Peshawar said that duties had been assigned to administrators to visit different markets and check both quality and prices of various items.

He said that most of the employees had gone on Eid leaves. That`s why the vendors and shopkeepers had started fleecing the customers with both hands, he added.

The official said that administration had arrested 10 bakers for overcharging customers in different areas of Peshawar including Dabgari Garden, Beresko Gate and Kohati Gate. They would remain behind bars during Eid, he added.