Prices of dry fruits skyrocketing

ISLAMABAD: Every passing day of winter and dropped mercury have skyrocketed the dry fruits prices.

The shopkeepers are charging exorbitant rates, as there is no mechanism to control prices of such items.

Nuts are being sold at Rs 280 to 320 per kg, grams at Rs 150 to 160 per kg, varieties of almonds at Rs 360 to 550 per kg and kernel at Rs 700, 800 and 900 per kg, pistachio with and without shell at Rs 1,000 to 1,600 per kg respectively, walnut at Rs 250 to 320 per kg, dried-up dates at 180 to 200 per kg, pine nut (Chilgoza) at Rs 2,000 to 2500 per kg while Mewa is being sold at Rs 400 and 500 per kg and peanut at Rs 160 to 180 per kg in the open market.

A dry fruit vendor of the federal capital said that with the sudden fall of temperature in the city the demand for dry fruits has sharply increased and the prices have gone up.

He said that the dry fruit dealers store the dry fruits, which cause the shortage of the commodities in the market and thereby leads to increase in prices.

He, however, said that this is only one reason of price hike adding that there are several other factors leading to increasing prices during the winter season.

Dr Sanatullah a local medical practitioners said walnut helped in reducing bad cholesterol in the blood, relaxing blood vessels and benefiting heart function.

He said dry fruits creat energy inside a body to brave cold and extreme chilled weather, while almond, pine nut and walnut are most beneficial to brain functions.