Prices of essential kitchen items witness sharp increase

ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed a sharp increase with the advent of Ramazan especially fruits, Besan, yogurt and dates are being sold at high prices, revealed a survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Saturday.

The survey observed that prices of most of vegetables including potato, onion, ginger, okra, cauliflower, black pepper, lemon and cabbage registered an increase whereas the prices of banana, mango and other fruit also increased.

The consumers complained that the government has left them at mercy of profiteers who are charging high prices even at Sasta Bazaars set up by the government, adding that those bazaars would only be useful, if prices were checked by the administration and stern action was taken against the profiteers.

The price lists issued by the local administration are either not placed at a prominent place by the shopkeepers or simply ignored as traders were not selling a single item at the fixed price.

Majority of the customers talking to Business Recorder said that wholesalers and retailers, particularly of fruits and vegetables, were freely fleecing the consumers ahead of the holy month despite tall claims of the relevant authorities.

The survey noted that the prices of different fruits including apples, peach, mangoes, grapes, banana, melon, watermelon, apricot, plum and pear had been raised by Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kg. Grapes are available at Rs 280 per kg, mango at Rs 80 per kg, apple at Rs 180-200 per kg, banana at Rs 160 per dozen, apricot at Rs 200 per kg, plum at Rs 120-200 per kg, melon at Rs 60 per kg and peach at Rs 120 per kg.

Similarly, the rates of an entire range of pulses also witnessed increase in the range of Rs 10-30 per kg. Maash is being sold at Rs 160 per kg against Rs 140 per kg two weeks ago; Moong is being sold at Rs 160 per kg against Rs 130 per kg, Lobia at Rs 130 per kg against Rs 110 per kg, Masoor at Rs 135 per kg against Rs 125 per kg, while white Channa price has increased by Rs 30 per kg, which is being sold at Rs 180 per kg against Rs 150 per kg.

Dates are available at the rate of Rs 200 to Rs 400 per kg, Besan is regularly used in Ramazan for making Pakoras for Iftar which is being sold at Rs 130 per kg, while shopkeepers have increased the Samosa price from Rs 10 per piece to Rs 12 per piece and Pakora price from Rs 160 per kg to Rs 200 per kg. Yogurt is being sold at Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kg while milk costs Rs 75-90 per kg. Live chicken is being sold at Rs 215 per kg against Rs 130-140 per kg, while chicken meat is available at Rs 380 per kg against Rs 240 per kg. Beef is being sold at Rs 560 per kg, mouton at Rs 360 per kg and eggs at Rs 72 per dozen.

Tomatoes are being sold at Rs 40 per kg against Rs 30 per kg, onions at Rs 40 per kg against Rs 30 per kg, potatoes at Rs 30 per kg against Rs 24 per kg, okra at Rs 50 per kh against Rs 40 per kg, ginger at Rs 120 per kg, cauliflower at Rs 60 per kg.

It was noted that there is no vegetable available below Rs 30 per kg – potatoes, the cheapest vegetable, is being sold at Rs 30 per kg while Shimla Mirch, cauliflower and Tinda are more expensive vegetables being sold at Rs 80 per kg.