Lemon prices in Multan saw a sharp and unexpected increase on Wednesday, leaving many citizens frustrated amid an ongoing heatwave.
Locals commonly use lemons to prepare refreshing drinks like lemonade and shikanjabeen during summer. However, the sudden jump in prices has taken many by surprise.
Residents reported that lemons, which were selling for Rs500 per kilo just a week ago, are now being sold for Rs800 per kilo in various markets. Shopkeepers appear to be disregarding official rate lists, which still peg the price at Rs535 per kilo.
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A resident shared that he was shocked to find lemons priced so high, saying his children had asked for lemons to make a cool drink, but he was unable to afford them at the current rates.
Retailers, on the other hand, blamed the wholesale market. One vendor claimed that they were now buying lemons at Rs800 per kilo themselves, calling the official rates outdated and impractical.
Frustrated by the unchecked rise in prices, citizens have called on the local authorities to step in and regulate the market to ease the burden on the public.