Prices of vegetables, fruits rising because of higher fuel prices, rains

ISLAMABAD: The continuous increase in fuel prices as well as supply disruptions owing to monsoon rains, the prices of essential kitchen items especially vegetables and fruits have further gone up, a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Saturday revealed.

According to traders and transporters, besides seasonal variations and supply disruptions, regular daily upward trajectory in fuel prices have played major role in increasing the prices of all the household items. Traders said that the successive increase in fuel prices following resurgence of the Middle East crisis and road blockades owing to heavy monsoon rains have resulted in increasing transportation costs in the range of 30 to 100 percent, therefore everything has become dearer.

The survey observed an increase of Rs300 per 40 kg of chicken price as it went up from Rs13,200 to Rs13,500 per 40 kg in wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Range of Rs350-375 against Rs345-360 per kg, while chicken meat is available in the range of Rs53-575 against Rs510-540 per kg varying area to area. Egg prices went up from Rs7,500 to Rs7,700 per carton containing 30 dozen in the wholesale market, while in retail eggs are being sold in the range of Rs280-290 against Rs265-275 per dozen. Meat prices remained stable as normal quality mutton is available in the range of Rs2,750-2,850 per kg, the best quality meat in the range of Rs3,100-3,300 per kg, normal quality boneless beef at Rs1,750 per kg, and normal mixed beef at Rs1,550 per kg. Prices of the various varieties of fish also remained unchanged as different varieties of fishes are available in the range of Rs600-1,200 per kg.

Sugar price went down from Rs6,900 to Rs6,800 per 50 kg bag in wholesale markets, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs150-160 per kg, while official rate is fixed at Rs147 per kg.

Wheat flour price went up from Rs2,000 to Rs2,150 per 15 kg bag in the wholesale market, while in retail it is being sold at Rs2,200 against Rs2,050-2,080 per 15kg bag. Tandoor owners have increased Roti price from Rs20 to Rs25, Naan and Paratha prices remained stable as Naan is being sold 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.

The prices of cooked food items have witnessed an increase as a cooked dal/vegetable plate at a normal restaurant went up from Rs320 to Rs350, a cooked beef plate from Rs550 to Rs680, a cooked chicken plate from Rs500 to Rs530, cooked mutton from Rs750 to Rs800, while a cup of tea on most of the hotels/restaurants is available at Rs80-100 per cup, however some of the restaurant operators are still selling a cup of tea in the range of Rs50-60 per cup.

No changes were observed in branded spices prices which at present are being supplied under a special promotional scheme by the produces with a reduction of Rs20 per pack of various spices price from Rs150 per 39-gram pack to Rs130 per pack. Ghee/cooking oil prices remained stable as B-grade ghee/oil is available at Rs6,820 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is still being sold at Rs440-450 per pack of 900 grams, while the best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee is available 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) notifying an increase of Rs12.89 per kg of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price and fixed at Rs254.32 per kg for August against Rs241.43 per kilogram, however the LPG marketing companies, distributors and retailers are selling the commodity at more than double of the official price as in hilly areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jamu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa LPG is being sold in the range of Rs500-600 per kg while in cities like Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the range of Rs380-400 per kg against official the rate. While a domestic LPG cylinder containing 15 kg in hilly areas costs Rs5,500-6,300 against Rs3,815. The phenomenon reflects that LPG marketing companies, distributors and retailers are overcharging the consumers by Rs Rs126-146 per kg and Rs1,690-2,490 per domestic cylinder of 15 kg, as OGRA and other relevant authorities which include local representatives, Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Tehsildars, Representatives of traders and farmers have totally ignored the monitoring the market situation to enforce the official rates as a result consumers are compelled to pay high rates over the past eight years.

The prices of the various varieties of rice remained stable as the top quality basmati rice is available at Rs1,4000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs400 against per kg, normal quality Basmati at Rs12,000 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs350 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati at Rs9,500 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs270 per kg, while normal quality broken Basmati at Rs7,100-7,500 per 40kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs200-220 per kg.

Tea prices witnessed no fluctuations, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs2,000 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea at Rs1,900 per kg; turmeric powder price in wholesale market is available at Rs600 per kg while retailers are selling it in the range of Rs800-1,000 per kg and red chilli powder in wholesale at Rs600 per kg, which retailers selling at Rs800-1,000 per kg.

Pulses prices witnessed no changes as maash pulse in wholesale market is available at Rs13,500 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs420-450 per kg, gram pulse at Rs8,500 per 40 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs250-260 per kg, best quality whole gram at Rs9,200 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs270-290 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils at Rs15,200-17,200, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs410-520 per kg, moong pulse at Rs12,000 per 40kg, which in retail is available at Rs330 per kg, and masoor pulse at Rs8,300 per 40 kg which in retail is available at Rs260 per kg.

Packed milk prices such as Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others witnessed no changes as per carton of litre pack is available at Rs4,250 per carton, while in retail per litre pack is being sold at Rs380 and the price of a carton of 250ml also remained stable at Rs2,530 per carton which in market is being sold at Rs100 per 250ml. Fresh milk price across the twin cities remained stable at Rs260 per litre, while in some parts especially posh sectors fresh milk is being sold at 280 per litre, and the yogurt price also remained stable Rs280 per kg, while in posh sectors it is being sold in the range of Rs280-300 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, and a 200 gram pack at Rs750 per pack.

Overall bathing soaps’ prices remained stable as Safeguard family size is available at Rs175 per pack, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolives, and others at Rs160 per pack, and detergent prices, such as Ariel Surf, Brite, Express Power, and others remained stable at Rs600 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.

The vegetable prices also witnessed an increasing trend. Potatoes price remained stable at Rs1500-2,700 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs50-60 per kg and official price is fixed at Rs24-39 per kg; onion price went up from Rs5,300-7,500 to Rs7,500-9,500 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs120-150 against Rs90-120 per kg while official rate is set at Rs85-121 per kg and tomato price went up from Rs4,000 to Rs4,300 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs370-420 against Rs350-400 per kg contrary to the official rate of Rs218-281 per kg. Ginger price remained stable at Rs1,500 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs450-500 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs351-382 per kg, various varieties of garlic prices remained stable as garlic is available in the range of Rs500-1,350 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs175-500, while official rate is fixed at Rs133-351 per kg.

Capsicum price went up from Rs1,300 to RS1,350 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs350-450 per kg, while official price is fixed at Rs303-327 per kg, prices of various varieties of pumpkins remained stable at Rs450-700 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs150-220 per kg while official price is fixed at Rs110-194 per kg; various types of tinda prices remained stable at Rs600-1,200 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs170-330 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs145-278 per kg; eggplant price went up from Rs325 to Rs375 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs110-120 per kg while official is set at Rs97-109 per kg; cauliflower price went down from Rs550 to Rs450 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs130-140 against Rs150-180 per kg while official price is fixed at Rs109-121 per kg, turnip price went up Rs300 to Rs350 per 5 kg which in retail are being sold at Rs90-100 against Rs80-90 per kg, while official rate is fixed at Rs77-93 per kg and cabbage price went up from Rs550 to Rs575 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs150-170 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs145-157 per kg, fresh-bean price remained stable at Rs500 per 5 kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs130-160 per kg, while official rate is set at Rs121-133 per kg, peas price went up from Rs1,200 to Rs1,250 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs320-360 against Rs300 -350 per kg while official rate is set at Rs303-327 per kg. Okra price went down from Rs650 to Rs600 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs180-200 against Rs200-220 per kg, while official rate is fixed at Rs145-157 per kg, carrot price went up from Rs400 to Rs450 per 5kg which in retail are being sold at Rs120-135 against Rs110-130 per kg while government fixed rate is Rs109-121 per kg, bitter-gourd price remained stable at Rs450 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs120-140 per kg, while official price is set at Rs109-121 per kg. Green chilli price went up from Rs400 to Rs475 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs125-150 against Rs110-130 per kg while official price is fixed at Rs109-128, taro root price went down from Rs300 to Rs270 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs80-90 against Rs100-120 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs67-73 per kg, cucumber price remained stable at Rs800 per 5kg which in retail are being sold at Rs250-300 per kg, while official price is fixed at Rs194-209 per kg and ridge gourd price went up from Rs270 to Rs335 per 5kg in wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs75-90 per kg, while official rate is fixed at Rs73-85 per kg.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026