ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items showed a mixed trend over the past week compared to the previous week, according to a survey conducted by Business Recorder on Saturday.
Chicken price went up from Rs 13,300 to Rs 13,600 per 40 kg in the wholesale market, while in retail chicken is being sold at Rs370-395 against Rs360-380 per kg. Chicken meat is available in the range of Rs550-630 per kg, varying from area to area. Egg prices went up from Rs 5,600 to Rs 5,900 per carton containing 30 dozen in the wholesale market, while in retail, eggs are being sold in the range of Rs230-235 against Rs220-230 per dozen.
Meat prices remained stable as normal quality mutton is available in the range of Rs2,600-2,700 per kg, while the best quality is in the range of Rs2,800-3000 per kg, normal quality boneless beef from Rs1,500 to Rs1,650 per kg, and normal mixed beef from Rs1,300 to Rs1,400 per kg. Prices of the various varieties of fish witnessed no changes as different varieties of fish are available in the range of Rs450-800 per kg.
The survey noted a reduction in sugar prices, which went down from Rs 7,350 to Rs 7,200 per 50 kg bag in the wholesale markets, while in retail, sugar is being sold in the range of Rs150-160 against Rs155-170 per kg.
Wheat flour price witnessed an increase, which in the wholesale market went up from Rs 1,830 to Rs 1,870 per 15 kg bag, while in retail it is being sold at Rs 1,900-1920 against Rs1850-1,880 per 15 kg bag. No changes were witnessed in Roti, Naan, and Paratha prices, which tandoor owners had increased three weeks ago without any specific reason, as Roti is being sold at Rs25 against Rs20, Naan at Rs30 against Rs25, and Paratha at Rs60 against Rs50. No changes were observed in bakery and confectionery items. Normal-sized bread is available at Rs150 against Rs140, small-sized bread at Rs110, and family-sized bread at Rs210.
Ghee/cooking oil prices went up as B-grade ghee/oil is available at Rs 6,550 against Rs 6,350 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs420 against Rs410 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 remained stable as the top quality new basmati rice is available at Rs 12,500 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs360 per kg, normal quality Basmati at Rs 11,000 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at RS320 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati at Rs 8,300 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs250 per kg, while normal quality Basmati at Rs 6,000-6,500 per 40kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs150-200 per kg.
Tea prices remained stable, as Lipton Yellow Label is available Rs 2,000 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs 1,700 per kg; turmeric powder and chilli powder prices witnessed a reduction as turmeric powder price went down from Rs700 to Rs600 per kg in wholesale market which retailers are still selling in the range of Rs800-900 against Rs900-1,100 per kg. Red chilli powder price went down from Rs750 to Rs650 per kg, which the retailers are selling at Rs850-900 against Rs950-1,200 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.
According to traders, the prices of various varieties of pulses witnessed no changes as maash pulse in the wholesale market is available at Rs 14,300 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs430-480 per kg, gram pulse at Rs 9,000 per 40 kg, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs240-250 per kg, best quality whole gram at 10,000 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs260-275 per kg while normal gram pulse at Rs260 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils at Rs 15,000-18,000 which in retail are available in the range of Rs430-550 per kg, moong pulse at Rs 12,500 per 40kg which in retail is available at Rs350 against Rs350, and masoor pulse at Rs 9,000 which in retail is available at Rs250 per kg.
Packed milk prices such as Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others witnessed no changes as per carton of litre pack is available at Rs 4,000 while in retail per litre pack is available at Rs360, and the price of a carton of 250ml packed milk remained stable at Rs 2,500, which 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, they 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 per 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 declining trend. Potatoes price went down to historic low of Rs800-1,100 from Rs1,100-1,300 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs40-60 per kg against the government fixed price of Rs14-21 per kg; onion price in wholesale market went up from Rs3,000-6,000 to Rs3,600-6,700 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs70-100 against Rs60-90 per kg while official price is fixed at Rs48-80 per kg and tomato prices went down from Rs450 to Rs350 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs40-45 against Rs50-70 per kg while official price is fixed at Rs24-48 per kg.
Ginger price went down from Rs 2,500-2,700 to Rs 1,200-1,700 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs450-550 against Rs750-800 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs303-360 per kg, garlic prices witnessed a mixed trend as local garlic is available at Rs800 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs270-350 against official rate of Rs194-230 per kg, Quetta garlic price went up from Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,500 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs420-475 against Rs400-450 per kg while official rate is set at Rs363-418 per kg and China garlic price remained stable at 2,700 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs700-750 per kg while government has set China garlic rate at Rs605-652 per kg, however majority of vendors are selling local garlic in the name of China/Quetta to maximize their profits.
Capsicum price went down from Rs550 to Rs400 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs130-150 against Rs155-175 per kg while official price is set at Rs97-109 per kg, prices of various varieties of pumpkins went down from Rs150-500 to Rs150-400 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs65-150 against Rs65-170 per kg while official price is fixed at Rs45-132 per kg; various types of tinda price went down from Rs350-500 to Rs300-450 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs100-130 against Rs120-150 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs70-121 per kg; eggplant price remained stable at Rs325 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs80-100 per kg against official of Rs79-85 per kg; cauliflower price remained stable at Rs170 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs60-80 while official price is fixed at Rs48-55 per kg, turnip price remained stable at Rs150 per 5 kg which in retail are being sold at Rs50-60 against official rate of 43-48 per kg and cabbage price went further down from Rs150 to Rs125 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs60-70 against Rs65-75 while official rate is set at Rs36-43 per kg, fresh-bean price went down from Rs325 to Rs300 per 5 kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs80-120 against official price of Rs73-79 per kg, peas price went down from Rs225 to Rs200 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs65-70 against Rs70-90 per kg while official rate is set at 55-61 per kg. Okra price remained stable at Rs850 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs250-280 per kg while official rate is set Rs206-242 per kg, carrot price went down from RS170 to Rs150 per 5kg which in retail are being sold at Rs55-75 against government fixed rate of Rs43-48 per kg, bitter-guard price went up from Rs500 to Rs600 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs170-190 against Rs150-170 while official price is set at 135-148 per kg.
Overall, fruit prices witnessed a declining trend as bananas price is stable at Rs140-300 per dozen, various varieties of apple prices went up from Rs200-500 to Rs250-550 per kg, with white apples at Rs250 per kg cheapest and Iranian Kalakilo apple at Rs550 per kg most expensive, guava in the range of Rs130-200 per kg, various varieties of oranges in the range of Rs120-400 against Rs140-450 per dozen, various varieties of grapes in the range of Rs700-900 per kg and pomegranate in the range of Rs600-800 per kg, new arrival strawberry in the range of Rs300-450 against Rs600-700 per kg, melon in the range of Rs120-200 against Rs175-225 per kg, water-melon in the range of Rs80-130 against Rs100-150 per kg, berries in the range of Rs100-130 per kg.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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