Monsoon rains surge Lahore food prices, widening gap between notified rates and retail costs.

Heavy monsoon rainfall has impeded the delivery of fresh vegetables, fruit, and poultry to Lahore, widening the spread between official price notifications and street prices. Transport of perishable goods from farms to wholesale markets was slowed, lowering arrivals and raising handling and distribution costs. Speculative trading and weak market oversight appear to add to the price increase. The district administration continues to publish daily notifies, yet most products remain above the notified rates. For example, the official price of live chicken fell to R$309‑323 a kilogram, yet retailers sell it for R$520‑570. Onions, listed at R$147‑155, are sold for R$180‑200. Garlic, notified at R$152‑160, reaches R$200‑250. The price gap also exists for other items such as potatoes, tomatoes, and peaches.