ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items especially vegetables, wheat flour, sugar, and chicken have witnessed a declining trend during the last week, revealed a survey conducted by Business Recorder on Saturday.
According to traders the essential kitchen item prices would have further reduced, had the government not increased the petrol and high-speed diesel oil prices by Rs27 per litre apiece on Friday. They said that the increase in fuel prices has resulted in escalating transportation costs which deprived the end consumers of the full price reduction benefits of vegetables and fruits as well as other daily use items.
Chicken price went down from Rs15,000 to Rs14,000 per 40 kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold at Rs385-400 per kg the last week against Rs395-410 per kg the previous week. Chicken meat price went down from Rs600-650 to Rs570-620 per kg, varying from area to area.
Egg price is stable at Rs7,000 per carton containing 30 dozen in the wholesale market, while in retail eggs are being sold in the range of Rs250-260 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 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 fishes are available in the range of Rs450-800 per kg.
Sugar price went down from Rs7,150 to Rs7,000 per 50 kg bag in the wholesale markets, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs150-160 per kg. Wheat flour price went down from Rs1,650 to Rs1,600 per 15 kg bag in the wholesale market, while in retail it is being sold at RsRs1,630-1,650 against Rs1,650-1700 per 15 kg bag.
No changes were witnessed in Roti, Naan and Paratha prices as Roti is being sold at Rs25, Naan at Rs30, and Paratha at Rs60. 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 remained stable as B-grade ghee/oil price is stable at Rs6,700 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs430 per pack of 900 grams, while the best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee price is also stale at Rs2,920 per 5kg tin which in retail are being sold at Rs3,000 per 5-litre bottle.
Officially, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has set the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price at Rs304 per kilogram, however the LPG marketing companies, distributors and retailers are selling LPG in the range of Rs425-450 per kg against official rate of Rs304 while a domestic cylinder containing 15 kg LPG is being sold at Rs6,200 against official rate of Rs 4,560, reflecting an overcharging of Rs Rs121-145 per kg and Rs2,140 per domestic cylinder of 15 kg.
The marketing companies, distributors and retailers all are overcharging per kg by Rs75-100 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 basmati rice is available at Rs13,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs380 per kg, normal quality Basmati at Rs11,500 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs340 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati at Rs8,700 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs260 per kg, while normal quality Basmati at Rs6,500-7,000 per 40kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs160-210 per kg.
Tea prices remained stable, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs 2,000 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs1,700 per kg; turmeric powder and chilli powder prices witnessed no changes as turmeric powder is available at Rs650 per kg in wholesale market which retailers are selling in the range of Rs850-950 per kg and red chilli powder at Rs700 per kg which retailers selling at Rs850-950 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.
Pulses prices witnessed no changes as maash pulse in wholesale market is available at Rs14,500 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs450-500 per kg, gram pulse at Rs9,200 per 40 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs250-260 per kg, best quality whole gram at Rs10,000 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs270-290 per kg while normal gram pulse is being sold at Rs270 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils are available in the range of Rs15,600-18,6000, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs440-560 per kg, moong pulse at Rs12,700 per 40kg, which in retail is available at Rs350, and masoor pulse at Rs9,200 per 40 kg which in retail is available at Rs260 per kg.
Packed milk prices such as Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others witnessed an changes as per carton of litre pack is available at Rs4,200 against Rs4,150 while in retail per litre pack is available at Rs370 per pack and the price of a carton of 250ml packed milk went up from Rs2,500 to Rs2,550 which in market 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 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 Rs1,100 against Rs 1,350, and a 200 gram pack at Rs750 per pack.
Overall bathing soaps’ prices remained stable as Safeguard family size 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 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.
The vegetable prices witnessed a declining trend. Potatoes price went up from Rs1,200-1,300 Rs1,400-2,400 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs50-60 against Rs45-65 per kg however the government fixed price is Rs24-43 per kg; onion price both in wholesale and retail market remained stable as in wholesale market onions were being sold at Rs3,500-6,000 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs80-100 against official set price of Rs48-76 per kg and tomato prices went down from Rs1,120 to Rs5,50 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs50-70 against Rs90-100 while official price is fixed at Rs31-55 per kg.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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