Prices of essential kitchen items witness up to 25 percent reduction

Prices of essential kitchen items, especially entire range of pulses, have witnessed up to 25 percent reduction, while branded tea price is to go up by 10 percent within next two weeks, a survey carried out Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday.
According to traders at Rawalpindi/Islamabad wholesales market, mass pulse price has reduced from Rs 4,500 per 25kg bag to Rs 3,700 per bag, moong pulse from Rs 3,500 per 25kg bag to Rs 2,750 per bag, Lobia from Rs 2,750 per bag to Rs 2,250 per 25kg bag, Channa from Rs 4,450 per 25kg bag to Rs 3,875 per bag and Masoor from Rs 3,250 per bag to Rs 2,750 per 25kg bag.
Mash pulse is being sold at Rs 160 per kg against Rs 190 per kg, Channa at Rs 170 per kg against Rs 190 per kg, Lobia at Rs 100-120 per kg against Rs 120-140 per kg, Monng at Rs 120 per kg against Rs 150 per kg and Masoor at Rs 110 per kg against Rs 140 per kg.
The survey observed that the rice prices have witnessed an increase, as best quality Basmati rice is being available at Rs 120 per kg against Rs 110 per kg, while normal at Rs 70 per kg against Rs 60 per kg.
Traders told this correspondent that major tea supplier Lipton has intimated of hiking Lipton Yellow Label and Supreme Tea rates by further 10 percent within coming weeks. Lipton during the past month has also increased the tea prices from Rs 660 per kg pack to Rs 770 per pack and if the company is further increasing rates, one kg pack of Lipton Yellow Label and Supreme will cost Rs 847 per pack against current rate of Rs 770 per pack.
During the week under review, chicken price witnessed no change which is being available at Rs 4,700 per 40kg, which in retail market is being available at Rs 130-135 per kg, while chicken meat is being sold at Rs 220 per kg and different qualities of fish are being available in the range of Rs 180 per kg to Rs 350 per kg.
Egg prices remained stable at Rs 100 per dozen which in retail is being available at Rs 110 per dozen, while normal quality wheat flour is being available at Rs 750 per 20kg bag.
The survey observed that prices of the most used kitchen items like tomatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger in wholesales market as well as in retail market registered a decline, while sugar, wheat flour, tea, milk and other non-perishable items' prices remained stable.
Tomatoes are being sold at Rs 220 per 5kg in wholesales market, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 55 per kg, best quality onions at Rs 130 per 5kg against Rs 180 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 35 per kg against Rs 45 per kg. Potatoes price is stable at Rs 1,400 per quintal in wholesales market while in retail it is being sold at Rs 30 per kg.
Ginger price in wholesale market went down from Rs 500 to Rs 375 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 100 per kg against Rs 120 per kg, garlic price went down by Rs 250 per 5kg from Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,350 in wholesales market which is being sold at Rs 320 per kg in retail against Rs 380 per kg, while Chinese garlic is available at Rs 1,250 per 5kg in wholesales market which in retail is being available at Rs 280 per kg, lemon price is stable at Rs 200 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 60 per kg.
No significant change was observed in vegetable prices as brinjal is being available at Rs 200 per 5kg in wholesales market while in retail market it is being available at Rs 45/50 per kg, carrot at Rs 100 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 25 per kg, cucumber price remained at Rs 200 per 5kg which in retail market is being sold at Rs 50 per kg, a pack of 8kg radish in wholesales market is being available at Rs 100 against Rs 80, while in retail market it is being sold at Rs 15 per kg.
Okra is being available at Rs 500 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 115 per kg, peas at Rs 230 per 5kg which in retail market is being sold at Rs 55-60 per kg, kadu is being available at Rs 250 per 5kg in wholesales market while in retail market it is being sold at Rs 65 per kg.
The price of kareela remained Rs 550 per 5kg, which is being sold at Rs 140 per kg and arvi prices went up from 300 to Rs 350 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 80 per kg against Rs 75 per kg. Cauliflower price reduced from Rs 120 to Rs 100 per 5kg which in retail market is being sold at Rs 25 per kg against Rs 28 per kg, the prices of cabbage reduced from Rs 140 to Rs 120 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 30 against Rs 35 per kg.
Capsicum price went up from Rs 300 per 5kg to Rs 500 per 5kg which in retail market is being sold at Rs 120 per kg against Rs 70 per kg, beans price in wholesales market went up from Rs 200 to Rs 260 per 5kg, which in retail market are being sold at Rs 70 per kg against Rs 55 per kg.
Good quality ghee/cooking oil brands like Habib and Dalda per 5kg tin is being available at Rs 850, while normal ghee/cooking oil like Phool and Fauji brands are being available at Rs 130 per kg.
Prices of most of the fruits during the week under review witnessed a declining trend as good quality Indian banana is being sold at Rs 125 per dozen against Rs 140 per dozen, best quality local banana is being available at Rs 80 per dozen while normal at Rs 60 per dozen. Different types of oranges are being sold in the range of Rs 60 to Rs 180 per dozen with Shakari at Rs 180 per dozen and Kinow at Rs 150 per dozen, pomegranates are being available at Rs 120-175 per kg, guava is being sold at Rs 50-80 per kg, apples in the range of Rs 50 to Rs 180 per kg and good quality grapes are being available at Rs 180 per kg.