ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed an upward trend during the last week compared to the previous week, according to a survey conducted by Business Recorder on Saturday.
The wholesalers and retailers at various markets said that the prices of most of the items remained on the high side. They further said that due to the ongoing Middle East crisis, prices may further go up.
The survey noted that prices of pulse mash, wheat flour, pulse masoor, mustard oil, cooking oil, vegetable ghee, curd, pulse gram, and fresh milk went up during the period under review.
Wheat flour prices witnessed an increase of Rs 10-15 and reached Rs2,160 per 15 kg bag in the wholesale market, while in retail, it is being sold at Rs2,220 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. Bakery and confectionery item prices remained stable, as normal-sized bread is available at Rs170, small-sized bread at Rs125, and family-sized bread at Rs225.
Oil and ghee prices of different varieties increased in the range of Rs 5-10 per liter/kg.
The prices of different pulses witnessed a hike as Maash in the wholesale market is available at Rs13,350 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs430-460 per kg; gram pulse at Rs8,260 per 40 kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs255-265 per kg; best-quality whole gram at Rs9,100 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs275-295 per kg; various varieties of bean lentils at Rs15,000-16,850 per 40 kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs415-525 per kg; moong pulse at Rs12,000 per 40kg, which in retail is available at Rs340 per kg; and masoor pulse at Rs8,300 per 40 kg, which in retail is available at Rs265 per kg.
The survey observed no changes in chicken prices, as they remained unchanged at Rs13,000 per 40 kg in the wholesale market, while in retail, chicken is being sold in the range of Rs350-380 per kg, and chicken meat is available in the range of Rs520-570 per kg, varying from area to area. Egg prices remained stable at Rs6,700 per carton containing 30 dozen in the wholesale market, while in retail, eggs are being sold in the range of Rs240-250 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 prices also remained stable at Rs6,950 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 Rs145 per kg.
Overall, vegetable prices witnessed an increasing trend. Potato prices remained stable at Rs1,300-2,500 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs50-55 per kg, and the official price is fixed at Rs24-36 per kg; onion prices went up from Rs10,600-13,700 to Rs12,000-15,700 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs200-300 against Rs150-200 per kg, while the official rate is set at Rs157-224 per kg; and tomato prices went down from Rs2,500 to Rs2,000 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs120-180 against Rs200-220 per kg, while the official rate is fixed at Rs97-160 per kg. Ginger prices remained stable at Rs1,300 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs400-430 per kg, while the official rate is fixed at Rs303-363 per kg.
Various varieties of garlic prices went up from Rs550-1,500 to Rs600-1,700 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs220-450 against Rs200-430 per kg, while the official rate is fixed at Rs145-394 per kg.
Overall, fruit prices also witnessed an increasing trend, as banana was available in the range of Rs100-250 per dozen, apple prices went up from Rs200-400 to Rs220-420 per kg, mango prices Rs250-450 per kg, pear prices went up from Rs350 to Rs400 per kg, papaya prices went up from Rs330 to Rs350 per kg, peach prices remained stable at Rs225-340 per kg, guava prices went up from Rs180-220 to Rs200-250 per kg, various varieties of grapes are available in the range of Rs350-700 against Rs300-600 per kg, fresh-arrival citrus fruits are being sold in the range of Rs200-250 per dozen, and chikoo prices remained stable at Rs220-250 per kg.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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