ISLAMABAD: The prices of the essential kitchen items have witnessed an increasing trend during this week past against previous week, a survey carried out by Business Recorder revealed.
The survey observed a hike in chicken, eggs, wheat flour, sugar, and fruits prices. Sugar price in the whole sales market went up from Rs 7,250 to Rs 7,400 per 50 kg bag which in retail market is being sold in the range of Rs155-160 per kg against Rs145-155 per kg. Wheat flour price witnessed an increase as it went up from Rs 1,920 to Rs 2,000 per 15kg bag which in retail is being sold at Rs 2,030-2,050 against Rs 2,000 per 15 kg bag. However, the tandoor owners have kept the price of Roti, Naan, and Paratha unchanged as Roti being sold at Rs20, Naan at Rs23-25, and Paratha at Rs60. No fluctuation was witnessed in bakery and confectionery item prices as normal-sized bread is available at Rs140, small-sized size at Rs100/110.
The survey observed an increase in chicken prices as it went up from Rs 15,500 to Rs 16,000 per 40 kg in wholesale market and in retail is being sold at Rs430-450 against RsRs415-430 per kg, while chicken meat is available in the range of Rs700-800 against Rs650-750 per kg varying area to area. An increase in the egg prices was noted which went up from Rs 8,000 per carton containing 30 dozens to Rs 9,000 in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling eggs in the range of Rs340-360 against Rs330-350 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 2,700-2,8000 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 Rs600 to Rs 1000 per kg.
The survey noted an increase in ghee/cooking oil prices as B-grade ghee/oil price went up from Rs 6,000 to Rs 6,200 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs410 per pack of 900 grams, while the best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee price remained unchanged at Rs 2,845 per 5kg tin which in retail are being sold at Rs 2,900 per 5-litre bottle. However, according to traders the Dalda cooking oil/ghee manufacturers have informed them of increasing the cooking oil/ghee prices by Rs20 per kg within next few days as the Ramadan is reaching.
No changes were witnessed in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as officially the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has set the commodity price at Rs219.67 per kilogram, however the retailers are selling LPG at much higher rates as per kg LPG is being sold in the range of Rs330-350 against official rate of Rs219.67 while a domestic cylinder containing 15 kg LPG is being sold at Rs 4,700 against Rs 3,295, reflecting an overcharging of Rs 1,405 per domestic cylinder of 15 kg.
The marketing companies, distributors and retailers all are overcharging per domestic cylinder by 1,405 per cylinder and per kg by Rs130-150 as OGRA and other relevant authorities which include which local representatives, Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Tehsildars, Representatives of traders, farmers and retailers aren’t trying to monitor the market situation to enforce the official rates as a result consumers are compelled to pay high rates.
The prices of the various varieties of rice also witnessed an increasing trend as the best quality basmati price in wholesale market went up from Rs 12,000 to Rs 12,500 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs340 against Rs330 per kg, normal quality Basmati from Rs 10,700 to Rs 11,000 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs300 against Rs290 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati from Rs 8,000 to Rs 8,400 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs230 against Rs220 per kg, while normal quality Basmati is being sold in the range of Rs 5,500-6,5000 per 40kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs140-180 per kg.
No changes were witnessed in tea prices, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs 2,200 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs 1,800 per kg; in wholesale market turmeric powder price went down from Rs730 to Rs650 per kg which retailers are selling in the range of Rs700-1,000 per kg and red chilli powder price remained stable at Rs600 per kg which retailers selling at Rs700-850 per kg.
The prices of cooked food items remained stable as a cooked dal/vegetable plate at a normal hotel is available at Rs320, a cooked beef plate at Rs550, a cooked chicken plate at Rs500, cooked mutton at Rs750, and naan/roti is being sold at Rs25/30 and a cup of tea in the range of Rs70-100 per cup.
No changes were witnessed in the prices of branded spices such as Shan, National, and others, which are available at Rs150 per 39-gram pack and sachet pack at Rs70. However, traders told this correspondent that the suppliers are all set to increase the spices prices by Rs10 per pack prior to Ramadan, adding that the National FMG Company has informed the wholesalers of the new prices being notified soon.
Pulse prices remained unchanged in wholesale as well as in retail market as maash pulse is available at Rs 12,800 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs400-460 per kg, gram pulse price in wholesale market is available at Rs 8,000 per 40 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs240-250, best quality whole gram pulse wholesale is available at Rs 9,500 which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs 280-Rs300 per kg while normal gram pulse at Rs260 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils in the range of Rs400-500 per kg, moong pulse is available at Rs360, and masoor pulse is available at Rs260 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 Rs95 per 250ml, similarly litre pack at Rs360 per litre. Fresh milk prices in some parts of the twin cities are being sold at Rs250 per litre, while in some parts are still being sold at Rs240 per litre, and the yogurt price is stable at Rs250 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 Rs750 per pack.
Overall bathing soaps’ prices remained stable as Safeguard is available at Rs165 per pack, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolives, and others are available at Rs180 per pack, and detergent prices, such as Ariel Surf, Brite, Express Power, and others went down from Rs590 to Rs530per 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 Rs230.
Overall vegetable prices witnessed an increasing trend as potatoes price remained stable at Rs 1,100-1,300 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs40-60 per kg while government fixed price is Rs19-28 per kg; onion price in wholesale market went further down from 2,800-4,500 to Rs 2,600-4,300 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs50-80 against the government fixed price is Rs38-59 per kg and tomato prices went down from Rs650 to Rs500 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs60-80 against official price of Rs38-66 per kg.
Ginger price went up from 1,000-1,100 to Rs 1,150-1250 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs400-450 against Rs350-400 per kg, while official rate is fixed at Rs242-292 per kg, garlic prices remained stable as local garlic price is available at Rs450 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs175-200, while official rate is set at Rs143-170 per kg, Quetta garlic price went up from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,200 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs300-350 per kg against official rate of Rs265-308 per kg and China garlic price is stable Rs 1,700 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs400-450 400 per kg, however government has set China garlic rate at Rs385-450 per kg, while majority of vendors are selling local garlic in the name of China/Quetta to maximize their profits.
Capsicum price went further down from Rs350 to Rs320 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is still being sold in the range of Rs110-120 while official price is fixed at Rs77-88 per kg, prices of various varieties of pumpkins remained stable in the range of Rs160-300 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs55-120 while official price is set in the range of Rs44-77 per kg; various types of tinda price remained stable at Rs400-450 per 5 kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs130-150 per kg while government fixed rates of Rs110-120 per kg; eggplant price went up from Rs120 to Rs180 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs60-70 per kg while official rates are fixed at Rs53-58 per kg; cauliflower price went up from Rs130 to Rs150 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs50-70 against officially fixed of Rs37-41 per kg and cabbage price went down from Rs225 to Rs200 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs60-70 against Rs70-80 per kg while official price is fixed at Rs50-55 per kg, fresh-bean price remained stable at Rs250 per 5 kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs100-120 against official fixed price of Rs66-72 per kg, peas price is stable at Rs350 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs100-120 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs79-88 per kg.
The official rate list is issued after close collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders with giving a profit margin of Rs10 per kg to the sellers around the wholesale market Rs15-25 per kg profit margin to most parts of the capital city and Rs20-40 profit margin for the sellers in posh areas. But still no vender, pushcart holder and shopkeeper is following the official price list.
Fruit prices witnessed a mixed trend as bananas are available in the range of Rs70-150 per dozen, various varieties of apples in the range Rs100-350 per kg, with white apples at Rs100 per kg cheapest and Iranian Kalakilo apple at Rs350 per kg, guava in the range of Rs80-140 against Rs75-130 per kg, various varieties of oranges in the range of Rs70-350 against Rs70-250 per dozen, various varieties of grapes in the range of Rs275-500 per kg and pomegranates in the range of Rs400-650 against Rs600-800 per kg.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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