ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items recorded a declining trend during the past week compared to the previous week, according to a survey conducted by Business Recorder.
The survey observed an increase in the wheat flour prices, which jumped up from Rs 1,875 to Rs 1,910 per 15-kg bag, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 1,950 against Rs 1,920 per 15-kg bag. However, the tandoor owners have kept the price of Roti, Naan, and Paratha unchanged as Roti is being sold at Rs 20, Naan at Rs 23-25, and Paratha at Rs 60. No fluctuation was witnessed in bakery and confectionery item prices as normal-sized bread is available at Rs 140, small-sized at Rs 100/110.
The survey observed a reduction in chicken prices, which went down from Rs 12,600 to Rs 12,000 per 40 kg in the wholesale market and, in retail, is being sold at Rs 330-345 against Rs 345-360 per kg, while chicken meat is available in the range of Rs 550-650 against Rs 570-650 per kg varying area to area. According to traders, egg prices witnessed an increase in the wholesale market, which went up from Rs 10,200 to Rs 10,400 per carton of 30 dozen, while retailers are selling eggs in the range of Rs 350-370 per dozen. Mutton and beef prices remained stable as normal quality mutton is available at Rs 2,400 per kg, while the best quality is being sold in the range of Rs 2,700-2,800 per kg, normal quality boneless beef is available at Rs 1,500 per kg, and normal mixed beef at Rs 1,300 per kg. Various varieties of fish are available in the range of Rs 600 to Rs 1000 per kg.
The survey noted a mixed trend in ghee/cooking oil prices as B-grade ghee/oil price went down from Rs 6,250 to Rs 6,100 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 410 per pack of 900 grams, while the best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee price is stable at Rs 2,845 per 5kg tin which, in retail, are being sold at Rs 2,900 per 5-litre bottle.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price remained unchanged as official price is fixed at to Rs 210 per kg, however, in retail, LPG is being sold at Rs 340-350 per kg and the domestic LGP cylinder of 15 kg is being sold at Rs 4,700 against the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) set price of Rs 3,015 reflecting an overcharging of Rs 1,685 per domestic cylinder containing 15 kg.
Officially, the OGRA on December 1, 2025, has notified an increase of Rs 9 per kg in LPG price for December 2025, increasing the cost of a 15-kg domestic LPG cylinder by Rs135 compared with November and fixed LPG at Rs 210 against Rs 201 per kg. But the marketing companies, distributors and retailers all are overcharging per domestic cylinder by Rs 1,685 per cylinder and per kg by Rs 140-160, as the OGRA and other relevant authorities, which include which local representatives, Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Tehsildars, Representatives of traders, farmers and retailers, are not trying to monitor the market situation to enforce the official rates and as a result, consumers are compelled to pay high rates.
The prices of the various varieties of rice remained stable as the best quality basmati in the wholesale market is available at Rs 11,000 per 40-kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs 300 per kg, normal quality Basmati price at Rs 10,000 per 40-kg bag, which in retail, is being sold at Rs 270 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati price has reached to Rs 7,500 per 40-kg bag, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 200 per kg, while normal quality Basmati is available in the range of Rs 5000-6000 per 40-kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs 130-170 per kg.
No changes were witnessed in tea prices, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs 2,200 per 900-gram pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs 1,800 per kg. In the wholesale market, turmeric powder price went down from Rs 800 to Rs 730 per kg, which retailers are selling at Rs 1,000 per kg, while red chilli powder price remained stable at Rs 600 per kg, which retailers are selling at Rs 850 per kg.
The prices of cooked food items remained stable, as a cooked dal/vegetable plate at a normal hotel is available at Rs 320, a cooked beef plate at Rs 550, a cooked chicken plate at Rs 500, cooked mutton at Rs 750, and naan/roti is being sold at Rs 25/30 and a cup of tea in the range of Rs 70-100 per cup. Sugar price went down from Rs 8,750 to Rs 8,350 per 50-kg bag in the open market, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 180-200 per kg.
No changes were witnessed in the prices of branded spices such as Shan, National, and others, which are available at Rs 150 per 39-gram pack and sachet pack at Rs 70. However, traders told this correspondent that the suppliers are all set to increase the spice prices by Rs 10 per pack within the next few weeks, adding that the National FMG Company has informed the wholesalers of the new prices being notified soon.
Pulse prices remained stable in the wholesale market as maash pulse wholesale price is Rs13,200 per 40 kg or Rs 330 per kg, which, in retail, is available in the range of Rs 400-460 per kg, gram pulse price in the wholesale market is at Rs 8,400 per 40 kg or Rs 210 per kg, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 270 per kg, best quality whole gram pulse wholesale is available at Rs 9,500, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 280-Rs 300 per kg, while normal gram pulse at Rs 260 per kg. Different varieties of bean lentils in the range of Rs 400-500 per kg, moong pulse is available at Rs 400 per kg, and masoor pulse is available at Rs 260 per kg.
Prices of packed milk brands Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others per litre pack remained stable at Rs 3800-4000 per carton, while in retail, 250ml packed milk is being sold at Rs 100 per 250ml. Similarly, the litre pack price remained stable at Rs 360 per litre. Fresh milk in some parts of the twin cities is being sold at Rs 250 per litre, while in others it is still being sold at Rs 240 per litre, and the yoghurt price is stable at Rs 250 per kg. No changes were observed in the prices of powder milk, such as Nido and Lactogen, as 400-gram Nido powder milk is available at Rs 1,350, and a 200-gram pack at Rs 750 per pack.
Overall, bathing soaps’ prices remained stable, excluding Safeguard, which is now available at Rs 165 against Rs 160 per pack, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolives, and others are available at Rs 180 per pack, and detergent prices, such as Ariel Surf, Brite, Express Power, and others, also remained unchanged at Rs 590 per kg pack.
The prices of various brands of cold drinks, such as Pepsi, Coke, Miranda, and others, remained stable as a family-size bottle is available at Rs 230.
Overall vegetable prices witnessed a declining trend as potatoes price went down from Rs 2,700-4,300 to Rs 2500-4,000 per quintal, while retailers are selling it in the range of Rs 70-100 per kg against government fixed price of Rs 33-54 per kg; onion price in wholesale market remained stable at Rs 5,200-7,700 to per quintal, which, in retail, are being sold in the range of Rs 100-150 against the government fixed price of Rs 72-99 and tomato prices went down from Rs 850 to Rs 650 per basket of 15-kg, which, in retail, are still being sold in the range of Rs 80-120 against official price of Rs 42-60 per kg.
Ginger price went down from Rs 1,250-1300 to Rs 1,000-1,150 per 5 kg in the wholesale market, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 400-450 per kg against the official set rate of Rs 290-315 per kg. The garlic prices went down as local garlic is available at Rs 600 against Rs 750 per 5kg, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 200-230 against the official rate of Rs 165-175 per kg. Quetta garlic price remained stable at Rs 1,200 per 5 kg, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 265-290 per kg, and China garlic price went down from Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,500 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 400-425 per kg. The government has fixed the China garlic rate at 370-395 per kg, and the majority of vendors are selling local garlic in the name of China/Quetta to maximise their profits.
Capsicum price went further down from Rs 600 to Rs 500 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 150-160 against Rs 175-200, while the official price is fixed at Rs 120-130 per kg. The prices of various varieties of pumpkins went up from Rs 175-300 to Rs 200-575 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which, in retail, are being sold in the range of Rs 65-140 against Rs 65-110 per kg, while the government fixed price range of Rs 50-99 per kg. Various types of tinda prices remained stable at Rs 350-500 per 5 kg, which, in retail, are being sold in the range of Rs 120-175 per kg, while the government has fixed rates of Rs 90-115 per kg. The eggplant price went up from Rs 125 to Rs 250 per 5kg, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 80-100 against Rs 60-75, while the official rates are fixed at Rs 66-77 per kg. The cauliflower price went down from Rs 145 to Rs 100 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 50-70 against officially fixed of Rs 33-44 per kg and cabbage price is stable at Rs 450 per 5kg, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 150-170 against the officially fixed price of Rs 105-115 per kg. The fresh bean price is stable at Rs 450 per 5 kg, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 150-200 against the official rate of Rs 110-120 per kg, peas price remained stable at Rs 500 per 5kg, which, in retail, are being sold in the range of Rs 150-200 per kg, while the official rate is fixed at Rs 120-130 per kg.
The official rate list is issued after close collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders with giving a profit margin of Rs 10 per kg to the sellers around the wholesale market, Rs 15-25 per kg profit margin to most parts of the capital city, and Rs 20-40 profit margin for the sellers in posh areas. But still, no vendor, pushcart holder or shopkeeper is following the official price list.
Fruit prices also witnessed a declining trend as bananas are available in the range of Rs 75-140 against Rs 80-150 per dozen, various varieties of apples in the range Rs 100-400 against Rs120-450 per kg with white apples at Rs 100 per kg cheapest and Kalakilo apple at Rs 400 per kg, guava at Rs 90-130 against Rs 100-150 per kg. Various varieties of oranges in the range of Rs 100-230 against Rs 120-250 per dozen, various varieties of grapes in the range of Rs 220-450 against Rs 250-500 per kg, and pomegranates are in the range of Rs 600-800 per kg.
People have urged the authorities to either enforce an official price list or stop doing such an exercise, which has no benefit for the masses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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