ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items showed a declining trend this past week compared to the previous one, a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Saturday revealed.
The survey observed a reduction in sugar prices, which went down from Rs 7,500 to Rs 7,350 per 50 kg bag in wholesale markets, while in retail sugar is being sold between Rs155–170 per kg. Wheat flour prices, recorded a reduction: wholesale rates further dropped from Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,970 per 15 kg bag, while in retail it is still being sold at 2,050 per 15 kg bag as shopkeepers have not passed on the benefit to the end consumers.
However tandoor owners without any reason have increased the rates of Roti from Rs20 to Rs25, Naan from Rs25 to Rs30, and Paratha from Rs50 to Rs60. No changes were observed in bakery and confectionery items. Normal-sized bread is available at Rs150 (previously Rs140), small-sized bread at Rs110, and family-sized bread at Rs210.
The survey observed a significant reduction of Rs 2,000 per 40kg in chicken price which fell down from Rs 14,000 to Rs 12,000 per 40 kg in wholesale market while in retail chicken is being sold at Rs340-350 against Rs 375-390 per kg, while chicken meat is available in the range of Rs488-550 against Rs630-680 per kg varying area to area. Egg prices witnessed a further reduction as it went down from Rs 8,000 to Rs 7,200 per carton containing 30 dozen the wholesale market, while in retail eggs are being sold in the range of Rs270-290 against Rs300-310 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 Rs1,500 per kg, and normal mixed beef at Rs 1,300 per kg. Various varieties of fish are available in the range of Rs600 to Rs1000per kg.
The survey noted a mixed trend in ghee/cooking oil prices as B-grade ghee/oil is available at Rs 6,250 against Rs 6,000 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs410 against Rs400 per pack of 900 grams, while the best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee price remained stable at Rs 2,820 per 5kg tin which in retail are being sold at Rs 2,900 per 5-litre bottle.
The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price witnessed no changes as officially Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has set the commodity price at Rs225 per kilogram, however the retailers are selling LPG in the range of Rs330-350 against official rate of Rs225 while a domestic cylinder containing 15 kg LPG is being sold at Rs 4,700 against Rs 3,390, reflecting an overcharging of Rs 1,310 per domestic cylinder of 15 kg.
The marketing companies, distributors and retailers all are overcharging per domestic cylinder by 1,310 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 witnessed no changes as the top quality new basmati rice in wholesale market is available at Rs 11,900 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs340 per kg, normal quality Basmati at Rs 10,300 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs300 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati at Rs 7,700 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs230 per kg, while normal quality Basmati at Rs 5,000-5,900 per 40kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs140-180 per kg.
Tea prices have witnessed a reduction, as Lipton Yellow Label price went down from Rs 2,150 against Rs 2,000 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs 1,700 against Rs 1,800 per kg; turmeric powder and chilli powder prices witnessed a reduction as turmeric powder is available Rs530 against Rs650 per kg in wholesale market which retailers are still selling in the range of Rs700-1,000 per kg and red chilli powder price went down from Rs600 to Rs550 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.
Pulse prices witnessed no changes 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.
No changes were witnessed in the prices of packed milk prices which two weeks ago were increased but with the approaching of Ramadan the suppliers have announced special Ramadan offers the producers have withdrawn the prices of packed milk brands such Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others as per carton of litre pack is available at Rs 4,000 against Rs 4,300 per carton.
Meanwhile the retailers have also passed on the benefit to the end consumers as they shopkeepers are sealing per litre milk pack at Rs360 against Rs380 per litre. The price of a carton of 250ml packed milk remained stable at Rs 2,450 which in market is being sold at Rs100 per 250ml.
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 remained stable at Rs580 kg pack.
The prices of various brands of soft drinks such as Pepsi, Coke, Miranda, and others remained stable as a family-size bottle is available at Rs230.
Overall vegetable prices witnessed a mixed trend. Potatoes price remained stable at Rs1,000-1,200 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs40-60 per kg against the government fixed price of Rs19-24 per kg; onion price in wholesale market remained stable at Rs 2,000-4,500 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs45-70 against the government fixed price is Rs33-60 per kg and tomato prices went down from Rs950 to Rs850 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs90-110 against Rs100-120 while official price is fixed at Rs60-88 per kg.
Ginger price went down from 1,100-1,200 to Rs1,000-1,100 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs350-400 against official rate of Rs220-303per kg, garlic prices went up as local garlic is available at Rs700 against Rs600 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs250-330 against Rs200-250 per kg, while official rate is set at Rs187-220 per kg, Quetta garlic price remained stable at Rs 1,200 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs300-350 per kg against official rate of Rs253-297 per kg and China garlic price went up from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,100 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs550-600 against Rs500-550 per kg while government has set China garlic rate at Rs485-528 per kg, however majority of vendors are selling local garlic in the name of China/Quetta to maximize their profits.
Capsicum price went up from Rs500 to Rs550 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs140-160 against official price of Rs132-145 per kg, prices of various varieties of pumpkins remained stable Rs150-400 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs60-150 per kg against official price of Rs38-120 per kg; various types of tinda price went up from Rs300-375 to Rs320-400 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs120-150 per kg against official rate of Rs77-115 per kg; eggplant price went up from Rs250 to Rs300 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs80-100 per kg against official of Rs72-80 per kg; cauliflower price is stable at Rs150 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs50-60 while official price is fixed at Rs38-51 per kg and cabbage price went up from Rs150 to Rs170 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs60-70 per kg against official rate of Rs44-50 per kg, fresh-bean price is stable at Rs175 per 5 kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs75-80 against official price of at Rs60-66 per kg, peas price remained stable at Rs200 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs70-80 per kg against official rate of Rs55-60 per kg. Okra price went down from Rs800 to Rs750 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs230-250 per kg against official rate of Rs187-220 per kg, carrot price went up from Rs120 to Rs150 per 5kg which in retail are being sold at Rs50-70 per kg against government fixed of Rs44-50 per kg, bitter-guard price remained stable at Rs450 per 5kg which in retail are being sold at Rs130-140 against official of 110-120 per kg.
The official rate list is issued after close collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders with a profit margin of Rs10-20 per kg to the sellers around the wholesale market Rs15-30 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.
Overall fruit prices witnessed an increasing trend as bananas are in the range of Rs100-250 against Rs90-220 per dozen, various varieties of apples in the range of Rs200-500 against Rs165-500 per kg, with white apples at Rs200 per kg cheapest and Iranian Kalakilo apple at Rs500 per kg, guava in the range of Rs100-180 against Rs80-150 per kg, various varieties of oranges in the range of Rs150-400 against Rs100-400 per dozen, various varieties of grapes in the range of Rs400-700 per kg and papaya in the range of Rs350-400 per kg.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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