Prices of kitchen items increase due to goods transporters’ strike

ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed an increase mainly owing to a countrywide strike by transporters, a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Saturday revealed.

Traders told this correspondent that prices of edible items within the past few months had already witnessed a significant increase due to continued upward escalation in fuel prices, which was further intensified with the start of monsoon rains as a result of supply disruptions following damage caused to road networks connecting various parts of the country. They said that within the past one week, due to the truckers’ strike, edible items prices, including vegetables and fruits, have further gone up.

The survey observed an increase of Rs900 per 40 kg in chicken price, as it went up from Rs12,500 to Rs13,400 per 40 kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs360-380 against Rs325-350 per kg, while chicken meat is available in the range of Rs530-575 against Rs470-540 per kg, varying from area to area. Egg prices went up from Rs7,400 to Rs7,650 per carton containing 30 dozen in the wholesale market, while in retail eggs are being sold in the range of Rs280-290 against Rs275-280 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 various varieties of fish also remained unchanged as different varieties of fish are available in the range of Rs600-1,200 per kg.

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

Wheat flour price went slightly down from Rs2,200 to Rs2,190 per 15 kg bag in the wholesale market, while in retail it is being sold at Rs2,250 per 15 kg bag. No changes were witnessed in roti, naan and paratha prices, as roti is available at Rs25, naan at Rs30, and paratha at Rs60. Following continued increases in wheat flour prices, an upward trend in bakery and confectionery items’ prices was observed, as normal-sized bread price went up from Rs150 to Rs170, small-sized bread from Rs110 to Rs125, and family-sized bread from Rs210 to Rs225.

The prices of cooked food items witnessed no changes as a cooked dal/vegetable plate at a normal restaurant is available at Rs350, a cooked beef plate at Rs680, a cooked chicken plate at Rs530, cooked mutton plate at Rs800, Nehari at Rs600, 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 the prices of branded spices such as Shan, National, Dewan and others as various spices are available at Rs150 per 39-gram pack. Ghee/cooking oil prices witnessed an increase as B-grade ghee/oil is price went up from Rs6,820 to Rs7,000 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, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has announced 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 the 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 changes, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs2,000 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea at Rs1,900 per kg; turmeric powder price went up from Rs620 to Rs640 per kg in wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs700-850 per kg and red chilli powder price in wholesale market went up from Rs600 to Rs630 per kg, which retailers are selling in the range of Rs750-850 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 a carton of the one-litre pack is available at Rs4,250 per carton, while in retail, the one-litre pack is being sold at Rs380. The price of a carton of 250ml also remained stable at Rs2,530 per carton, which in the market is being sold at Rs100 per 250ml. Fresh milk prices across the twin cities remained stable at Rs260 per litre, while in some parts, especially posh sectors, fresh milk is being sold at Rs280 per litre, and the price of yogurt also remained stable at 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 powdered milk, such as Nido and Lactogen, as 400-gram Nido powdered milk is available at Rs1,100, and a 200-gram pack at Rs750 per pack.

Overall, bathing soap prices remained stable, as Safeguard family size is available at Rs175 per pack, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolive, 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.

Vegetable prices witnessed an increasing trend. Potato prices went up from Rs1,350-2,500 to Rs1,450-2,650 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs45-50 against Rs50-60 per kg, and the official price is fixed at Rs24-39 per kg; onion prices went up from Rs9,000-11,500 to Rs9,300-11,700 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs140-180 per kg, while the official rate is set at Rs109-169 per kg, and tomato prices went up from Rs3,300 to Rs4,300 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs330-370 against Rs270-325 per kg, while the official rate is fixed at Rs145-211 per kg. Ginger prices remained stable at Rs1,400 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs430-450 against Rs450-500 per kg, while the official rate is fixed at Rs339-381 per kg. Various varieties of garlic witnessed an increase in prices, as garlic is available in the range of Rs550-1,500 against Rs450-1,300 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs200-430 against Rs170-400 per kg, while the official rate is fixed at Rs157-351 per kg.

Capsicum prices went up from Rs1,250 to Rs1,400 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs350-450 against Rs330-380 per kg, while the official price is fixed at Rs303-327 per kg. Prices of various varieties of pumpkin went up from Rs360-630 to Rs425-670 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs175-230 against Rs130-170 per kg, while the official price is fixed at Rs97-157 per kg; various types of tinda prices went up from Rs430-800 to Rs750-1,000 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs200-300 against Rs160-230 per kg, while the official rate is fixed at Rs182-230 per kg; eggplant prices went down from Rs425 to Rs400 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs125-140 per kg, while the official rate is set at Rs97-109 per kg; cauliflower prices went up from Rs500 to Rs700 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs200-230 against Rs140-150 per kg, while the official price is fixed at Rs182-206 per kg.

Spinach prices remained stable at Rs250 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs75-80 per kg, while the official rate is fixed at Rs61-67 per kg, and cabbage prices went up from Rs500 to Rs630 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs160-180 against Rs130-145 per kg, while the official rate is fixed at Rs145-157 per kg. Fresh bean prices went up from Rs500 to Rs900 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs240-280 against Rs130-160 per kg, while the official rate is set at Rs206-230 per kg. Okra prices went up from Rs600 to Rs700 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs180-200 per kg against Rs150-170, while the official rate is fixed at Rs157-182 per kg. Carrot prices went up from Rs450 to Rs500 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs130-150 against Rs120-135 per kg, while the government-fixed rate is Rs121-133 per kg. Bitter-gourd prices went up from Rs450 to Rs500 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs130-150 against Rs120-140 per kg, while the official price is set at Rs121-133 per kg. Green chilli prices went down from Rs425 to Rs400 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs110-120 against Rs120-130 per kg, while the official price is fixed at Rs97-109.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026