The price of fruit and vegetable are rising across Punjab as the provincial government introduces a new schedule of market fees.
The Punjab Agricultural Marketing Regulatory Authority (PAMRA) has approved fees covering 136 fruits, vegetables and other agricultural commodities.
The charges are based on the sale value of produce and vary from one commodity to another.
The new schedule includes products ranging from potatoes, onions, peas and chillies to fruits, pulses, spices, nuts and dry fruits.
According to the notification, the fee rates are calculated using the average market prices of commodities over the previous five years.
Among the notified rates are 0.020% for Thailand ginger, 0.041% for Anwar Ratol mangoes, 0.014% for Badana pomegranates and 0.062% for lady finger.
Green cardamom carries a rate of 0.001%, while pistachios and almonds have a rate of 0.002%.
The government says the charges are intended to standardise fees collected by Market Committees in regulated markets and are not a general tax on farmers for cultivating crops.
The introduction of market fees comes as consumers across Punjab are already facing higher prices for everyday fruits and vegetables.
Traders and retailers may factor additional market-related costs into the prices charged to consumers, although the actual impact on retail prices will depend on supply, transportation costs, wholesale prices and market conditions.
The new fee structure has been introduced under the Punjab Agricultural Marketing Regulatory Authority Act, 2018, and the Punjab Market Committees Regulations, 2026.
Authorities say the system will provide a uniform framework for agricultural trading in regulated markets, while consumers will be watching whether the additional charges lead to further increases in the cost of fresh produce.
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