Prices of essential food items remain high in retail markets

PESHAWAR: Prices of essential food commodities, including live chicken/meat, sugar, vegetables, cooking oil/ghee, pulses and others have remained on ‘high-side’ in the local market, according to a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Sunday.

Live chicken is being sold at Rs176 per kilogramme while a dozen of farm eggs are available at Rs180-190 and Rs200, it added. Similarly, the survey noted the price of sugar remained unchanged in the local market as one kilogramme sugar was sold at Rs100 per kilogramme against the price of Rs105 per kilogramme.

Flour prices also remained on high-side as 20-kg flour bag is being sold at Rs1200-1300 and Rs1350, while 80-kg flour sac was available at Rs6,000 and 85-kg bag at Rs6500-6800, the survey revealed. All brands and qualities of cooking oil/ghee remained expensive in the retail market. One kilogram ghee and cooking oil is available within the range of Rs250-280 per kg, Rs300-340-350 and Rs360-370, the survey showed.

Fresh milk is being sold at Rs150-160 per litre while yogurt was being available at Rs120-140 per kilogramme, the survey noted. According to a survey, the prices of food grains/pulses remained unchanged. Good quality rice (sela) is being sold at Rs160 per kilogramme against the price of Rs150 per kilogramme while toota rice (sela) was available at Rs100 per kilogramme against the price of Rs80 per kilogramme.

Dal channa was being sold at Rs300 per kilogramme, dal mash at Rs260-270 per kilogramme, white channa (big size) at Rs200 per kilogramme, Khaara Red bean at Rs200 per kilogramme, dal masoor Rs200 per kg, Dal chilka green at Rs200 per kg, moonge at Rs170 per kg. Likewise, it added, white lobiya at Rs200 per kg, big-size white-channa small size at Rs160 per kg, dhoti dal at Rs270 per kg, dal masoor at Rs200 per kg while dal chilka (black) was being sold at Rs250 per kg.

According to the survey, prices of vegetables also remained ‘high’ in the local market. A one-kilogramme tomato is being sold within the range of Rs80-100, the survey noted. A one-kilogramme onion is being sold at Rs40 per kilogramme against the price of Rs60 per kilogramme.

Garlic is being sold at Rs250-260 per kilogramme, green chilli at Rs160 per kilogramme, cucumber at Rs50 per kilogramme, ginger was available at Rs400 per kilogramme, the survey noted. It added prices of other veggies have touched a new peak in the local market as peas is being sold at Rs80 per kilogramme, arvi at Rs100 per kilogramme, capsicum at Rs150 per kilogramme, red-coloured potatoes were sold at Rs70 per kilogramme, while white-coloured potatoes were available at Rs50-60 per kilogramme.

According to the survey, karela (bitter gourd) at Rs150 per kilogramme, lady finger at Rs120 per kilogramme, tinda at Rs80 per kilogramme, kado at Rs70 per kilogramme, turnip at Rs70 per kilogramme, Spinach at Rs30 per bundle, lemon at Rs120 per kilogramme, cauliflower at Rs90-100 per kilogramme, while cabbage at Rs80 per kilogramme.

The survey noted that the prices of fruits are completely out of the purchasing power of the common man in local market. Golden coloured apples are being sold at Rs150 per kilogramme, the survey said.

Similarly, it added that bananas are available at Rs60-80 a dozen, guava was being sold at Rs100-120 per kilogramme, pomegranate at Rs200-250 per kilogramme, persimmons (amlok) at Rs100-120 per kilogramme, grapes at Rs150-200 and Rs250 per kilogramme.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021