ISLAMABAD: The prices of the essential kitchen items have witnessed a mixed trend during this week past against previous week, a survey carried out by Business Recorder revealed.
The survey observed reduction in vegetable, eggs, pulses and fruits prices. Sugar price in the wholesale market remained stable at Rs 7,250 per 50 kg bag which during past one month has witnessed a reduction of 24 percent from Rs 9,500 to Rs 7,250 per 50 kg bag. Sugar in retail market is being sold in the range of Rs150-160 per kg which a month ago was available in the range of Rs190-200 per kg. Wheat flour price witnessed an increase as it went up from Rs 1,780 to Rs 1,920 per 15kg bag which in retail is being sold at Rs 2,000 against Rs 1,830 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 no changes in chicken prices as it is being sold at Rs 15,500 per 40 kg in wholesale market and in retail is being sold at Rs415-430 per kg, while chicken meat is available in the range of Rs650-750 per kg varying area to area. According to traders, egg prices during past two weeks witnessed reduction as per carton of eggs containing 30 dozens price is available at Rs 8,000 in the wholesale market which two weeks ago had crossed Rs 11,000 per carton, while retailers are selling eggs in the range of 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 1000per kg.
The survey noted slight fluctuations in ghee/cooking oil prices as B-grade ghee/oil price went down from Rs 6,250 to Rs 6,000 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, traders told this correspondent that the Dalda cooking oil/ghee manufacturers have informed the traders of increasing the cooking oil/ghee prices by Rs20 per kg within next few days.
Officially the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has notified an increase in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as the authority notifies an increase of RS10.8 per kg in LPG, taking the new rate to Rs219.67 per kilogram. In December, the price stood at Rs209 per kilogram. Following the increase, the price of a domestic LPG cylinder has gone up by Rs 126.09. The price of 15-kg domestic cylinder has been fixed at Rs 3,295, compared to Rs 3,140 in December. However, in retail LPG is being sold at Rs340-350 per kg and the domestic LGP cylinder of 15 kg is being sold at Rs 4,700 against OGRA set price of Rs 3,295 reflecting an overcharging of Rs 1,405 per domestic cylinder containing 15 kg.
But 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 remained stable as the best quality basmati in wholesale market is available at Rs 12,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs330 per kg, normal quality Basmati at Rs 10,700 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs290 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati at Rs 8,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at 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 within next few weeks, adding that the National FMG Company has informed the wholesalers of the new prices being notified soon.
Pulse prices witnessed a decline in wholesale market as maash pulse is available at Rs 12,800 against Rs 13,200 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 Rs8,000 against Rs 8,400 per 40 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs240-250 against Rs270 per kg, 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 against Rs400 per kg, 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 a further declining trend as potatoes price further went down from Rs 1500-2,300 to Rs 1,100-1,300 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs40-60 against Rs50-80 per kg while government fixed price is Rs19-28 per kg; onion price in wholesale market went down from 3,300-4,800 to Rs 2,800-4,500 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs50-80 against Rs75-120 while the government fixed price is Rs38-64 and tomato prices went up from Rs450 to Rs650 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs70-100 against official price of Rs55-80 per kg.
Ginger price went down from Rs 1,150-1200 to 1,000-1,100 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs350-400 against Rs400-450 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs240-305 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 down from Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,100 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs300-350 per kg and China garlic price went up from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,700 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs400-450 against Rs350-400 per kg, however government has set China garlic rate at Rs385-4409 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 Rs375 to Rs350 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs110-120 against Rs120-130 while official price is fixed at Rs77-88 per kg, prices of various varieties of pumpkins went down from Rs180-350 to Rs160-300 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs55-120; 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 has fixed rates of Rs110-120 per kg; eggplant price is stable at Rs120 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs55-70 per kg while official rates are fixed at Rs33-39 per kg; cauliflower price is stable at Rs130 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs50-70 against officially fixed of Rs33-39 per kg and cabbage price went down from Rs275 to Rs225 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs70-80 against Rs80-100 per kg while official price is fixed at Rs55-60 per kg, fresh-bean price went down from Rs320 to 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 Rs77-88 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 against Rs55-140 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 Rs80-130 against Rs55-120 per kg, various varieties of oranges in the range of Rs70-250 against Rs80-300 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.
People have urged the authorities to either enforce an official price list or stop doing such an exercise which has no benefit to the masses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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