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Fruit Boycott: Markets in Lahore remain largely empty for the second day of three-day strike

04:31 PM | 3 Jun, 2017
Fruit Boycott: Markets in Lahore remain largely empty for the second day of three-day strike
LAHORE/KARACHI - People around the country are observing a three-day strike against fruit vendors for overcharging during Ramazan and the effect of the campaign, which began on social media, was quite evident on its second day on Saturday.

During Ramzan, Lahore fruit markets are usually crowded and see a lot of clogged traffic, but on Saturday afternoon, the markets were largely empty with fruit vendors complaining that the boycott was totally unjustified and misplaced.

The fruit vendors who are witnessing a striking difference in customers said that the outrage at fruit vendors was completely blown out of proportion.

The citizens of Karachi also found some relief on the second of a three-day fruit boycott, as the price of fruit was lowered by up to 40 per cent after street vendors saw minimal market activity, according to Dawn.

Karachi Consumer Association Chief Kaukab Iqbal told Dawn that there were fewer buyers on the street, the usual hustle and bustle of Saturdays was missing.

Iqbal added: "Street hawkers that previously refrained from displaying the price of fruit on their carts were now calling the rates out loud in an effort to attract customers."


Iqbal said that the price of bananas had been lowered to Rs 80 even though the price on the list was Rs100 and hawkers had been selling them at as high as Rs180 the previous day.


"For now the price of fruit has gone down by at least 40pc but the commissioner is also to be blamed here for setting the price of fruit higher than necessary. The rate for bananas, for example, has been set at Rs100 when it is unjustified, as bananas do not have a transportation cost as high as other fruit," Iqbal added.


"The boycott is completely wrong as the wholesalers and retailers are the real culprits behind excessive prices," said one fruit vendor in Lahore.

The vendors in Lahore said the authorities have failed to control the price of edible items and that there is no mechanism installed to keep the prices low and fixed. "We ourselves are the victims of exorbitant prices," told one vendor to Daily Pakistan.



Street vendors were unhappy with the call to boycott fruit by civil society in the wake of a 300pc hike in fruit prices during the month of Ramazan. Most street sellers believe that the boycott is causing them losses while the gross-sellers remain unaffected by the boycott.

The street hawkers said there was 50 percent decrease in their sale. "I used to earn 20 thousand rupees per day, now I am only earning 8 thousand and it's getting worse," lamented one vendor.

The boycott has however met with mixed reactions from the public. Some ardently support it.

https://twitter.com/msaadonline/status/870443822056001537

https://twitter.com/jasmeenmanzoor/status/870398553599877121

https://twitter.com/SeedhaSadaInsan/status/870388383666679809

https://twitter.com/weeklyameer/status/870271864739909632

Others feel it targets poor sellers instead of wholesalers and retailers who are the real culprits behind excessive prices.

https://twitter.com/khattak/status/870542286785990656



https://twitter.com/sharmeenochinoy/status/870363143498760196

https://twitter.com/RamshaKhanPk/status/870411592239726592

https://twitter.com/murtazasolangi/status/870521552831266819

Hamza Rao
Hamza Rao

Hamza Rao is a member of the staff at Daily Pakistan. He can be reached at raohamzafree@gmail.com. He tweets at @HamzaRaoxxx

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Today's currency exchange rates in Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal rates on October 1, 2023

KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on October 1, 2023 (Sunday).

Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar ‎USD 286.05 289.15
Euro EUR  307 310
UK Pound Sterling GBP 353.3 357
U.A.E Dirham AED 80 80.8
Saudi Riyal SAR 76 76.75
Australian Dollar AUD 189 191
Bahrain Dinar BHD 778.84 786.84
Canadian Dollar CAD 220 222.2
China Yuan CNY 40.24 40.64
Danish Krone DKK 41.83 42.23
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 37.93 38.28
Indian Rupee INR 3.57 3.68
Japanese Yen JPY 1.63 1.71
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 945.27 954.27
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 62.62 63.22
New Zealand Dollar NZD 174.58 176.58
Norwegians Krone NOK 27.87 28.17
Omani Riyal OMR 762.31 770.31
Qatari Riyal ‎QAR 80.69 81.39
Singapore Dollar SGD 208 210
Swedish Korona SEK 26.62 26.92
Swiss Franc CHF 323.01 325.51
Thai Bhat THB 8.12 8.27

Gold Rate in Pakistan Today – October 1, 2023

Today Gold Rate in Pakistan

KARACHI - The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs 202,800 on Sunday.

The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs 173,870.

Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs168,730 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs196,807.

Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.

Today Gold Price in Pakistan - 1 October 2023

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Karachi PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Islamabad PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Peshawar PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Quetta PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Sialkot PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Attock PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Gujranwala PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Jehlum PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Multan PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Bahawalpur PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Gujrat PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Nawabshah PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Chakwal PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Hyderabad PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Nowshehra PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Sargodha PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Faisalabad PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420
Mirpur PKR 202,800 PKR 2,420

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