ISLAMABAD: Owing to a continued increase in fuel prices and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) announcement of a long march towards Islamabad, prices of essential kitchen items have risen over the past week compared with the preceding week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder on Saturday revealed.
Traders told this correspondent that prices of household essentials, including food items, had continued to rise over the past eight months following the Middle East crisis, which disrupted fuel supplies and sent prices soaring after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
They said the situation had worsened with the expansion of the conflict to Yemen, which disrupted fuel supplies through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The PTI’s announcement of a long march towards Islamabad had further aggravated the situation, with the closure of major roads and motorways connecting the federal capital with the rest of the country.
Traders argued that prices of daily-use items had increased by at least 30-50 percent since March 2026 due to higher transportation costs, electricity and gas bills, and other input costs. They said prices of vegetables, fruits and other food items at the farm level had declined over the past three weeks, but high transportation fares and other input costs were preventing suppliers from passing on the benefit to consumers. The situation had also increased the cost of school uniforms, notebooks, shoes, school van fares and other household essentials.
The survey recorded an increase in chicken prices, with the wholesale rate rising from Rs13,500 to Rs14,500 per 40kg. In the retail market, live chicken was being sold at Rs380-410 per kg, against Rs355-390 previously, while chicken meat was available at Rs550-630 per kg, compared with Rs520-600 previously, with prices varying from area to area. Egg prices remained stable at Rs7,300 per carton containing 30 dozen in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs265 to Rs275 per dozen.
Meat prices also remained unchanged. Normal-quality mutton was available at Rs2,750-2,850 per kg, while premium-quality mutton was priced at Rs3,100-3,300 per kg. Normal-quality boneless beef was selling at Rs1,750 per kg, while mixed beef was available at Rs1,550 per kg.
Prices of various fish varieties also remained stable, ranging from Rs600 to Rs1,200 per kg. Sugar prices remained unchanged at Rs6,800 per 50kg bag in wholesale markets, while retail prices ranged from Rs150 to Rs160 per kg, against the official rate of Rs142 per kg.
Wheat flour prices increased significantly, with the wholesale rate of a 15kg bag rising from Rs2,100 to Rs2,350. In the retail market, the bag was selling at Rs2,400, compared with Rs2,150-2,170 previously. Prices of cooked roti, naan and paratha remained unchanged, with roti available at Rs25, naan at Rs30 and paratha at Rs60-70.
Tandoor owners expressed serious concern over continued increases in the costs of gas, electricity, petrol, diesel and other inputs, saying the rising expenses were forcing them to shut down their businesses. Prices of bakery and confectionery items, which had already increased, remained unchanged during the week. Regular-sized bread was available at Rs180, small-sized bread at Rs130 and family-sized bread at Rs240.
Prices of cooked food items remained unchanged. A plate of cooked lentils or vegetables at a regular restaurant was available at Rs350, beef at Rs680, chicken at Rs530 and mutton at Rs800, while a plate of Nihari cost Rs600. A cup of tea at most hotels and restaurants was available at Rs80-100, although some eateries continued to sell it for Rs50-60.
Spice suppliers, including Shan, National, Deewan and others, have also increased prices across their product ranges by Rs10 per pack, citing higher input costs. Various spices were available at Rs160 per 39-gram pack, up from Rs150.
Ghee and cooking oil prices, which had already increased the previous week, remained stable. Grade-B ghee and cooking oil were available at Rs7,300 per carton containing 16 packs in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs460 to Rs470 per 900-gram pack. Prices of premium brands also remained unchanged, with Dalda ghee available at Rs2,970 per 5kg tin, while a 5-litre bottle of cooking oil was selling at Rs3,100.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has announced an increase of Rs20 per kg in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices for October, fixing the rate at Rs270 per kg, up from Rs259 per kg. However, LPG marketing companies, distributors and retailers were selling the commodity at substantially higher rates.
In hilly areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, LPG was being sold at Rs550-650 per kg, while prices in Rawalpindi and Islamabad ranged from Rs410 to Rs420 per kg, compared with the official rate. A domestic LPG cylinder containing 15kg was selling for Rs7,000 against the official price of Rs4,200.
The price difference indicates that consumers were being overcharged by Rs140-150 per kg in Rawalpindi and Islamabad and by Rs2,800 per domestic cylinder. OGRA and district authorities, including commissioners, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, tehsildars and magistrates, have failed to enforce official prices in the market.
Prices of various rice varieties remained stable. Premium-quality basmati rice was available at Rs13,000 per 40kg in the wholesale market and Rs380 per kg at retail. Regular-quality basmati rice was priced at Rs11,500 per 40kg wholesale and Rs330 per kg retail, while good-quality broken basmati rice was available at Rs9,000 per 40kg wholesale and Rs260 per kg retail.
Regular-quality broken basmati rice was selling at Rs7,000 per 40kg wholesale and Rs200-220 per kg retail. Tea prices remained unchanged, with Lipton Yellow Label available at Rs2,000 per 900-gram pack and Islamabad Tea at Rs1,900 per kg.
Turmeric powder prices also remained stable at Rs550 per kg in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs700 to Rs850 per kg. Red chilli powder was likewise available at Rs550 per kg wholesale, while retailers were selling it at Rs750-850 per kg.
However, some retailers were charging as much as Rs900-1,000 per kg amid ineffective price monitoring by district authorities.
Prices of various pulses remained stable. Maash pulse was available at Rs15,000 per 40kg in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs450 to Rs470 per kg. Gram was priced at Rs9,500 per 40kg wholesale and Rs260-280 per kg retail, while premium-quality whole gram was available at Rs10,000 per 40kg wholesale and Rs300-320 per kg retail.
Various varieties of beans and lentils were priced at Rs16,000-17,700 per 40kg wholesale and Rs440-520 per kg retail. Moong pulse was available at Rs10,500 per 40kg wholesale and Rs300 per kg retail, while masoor pulse was priced at Rs9,000 per 40kg wholesale and Rs280 per kg retail.
Prices of packaged milk brands, including MilkPak, Olper’s and others, remained unchanged. A carton containing 1-litre packs was available at Rs4,250, while a single 1-litre pack was selling for Rs380 at retail. The price of a carton containing 250ml packs also remained stable at Rs2,530, with each pack selling for Rs100.
Fresh milk prices remained stable at Rs260 per litre, although prices in some areas, particularly upscale sectors, ranged from Rs280 to Rs300 per litre. Yogurt was available at Rs280 per kg, while prices in upscale sectors ranged from Rs300 to Rs330 per kg. Prices of powdered milk brands, including Nido and Lactogen, also remained unchanged. A 400-gram pack of Nido was available at Rs1,100, while a 200-gram pack cost Rs750.
Prices of bathing soaps remained stable, with a family-sized pack of Safeguard available at Rs175, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolive and other brands were priced at Rs160 per pack. Detergent prices also remained unchanged, with one-kilogram packs of Ariel, Surf, Brite, Express Power and other brands available at Rs600. Prices of soft drinks, including Pepsi, Coke, Miranda and others, remained stable, with a family-sized bottle selling for Rs230.
Vegetable prices showed a mixed trend. Potatoes were available at Rs1,300-2,500 per quintal in the wholesale market, while retailers were selling them at Rs45-50 per kg against the official rate of Rs22-36 per kg.
Onion prices increased, with wholesale rates rising from Rs6,500-14,000 to Rs7,000-14,500 per quintal. Retail prices ranged from Rs190 to Rs260 per kg, compared with Rs180-250 previously, while the official rate was Rs145-206 per kg.
Tomato prices declined from Rs2,300 to Rs2,200 per 15kg basket in the wholesale market. Retail prices ranged from Rs120 to Rs170 per kg, down from Rs130-180, while the official rate was Rs97-162 per kg. Ginger prices remained stable at Rs1,500 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs450 to Rs550 per kg against the official rate of Rs363-424 per kg.
Prices of various garlic varieties increased, with wholesale rates rising from Rs700-1,850 to Rs750-1,900 per 5kg. Retail prices ranged from Rs260 to Rs570 per kg, compared with Rs250-550 previously, while the official rate was Rs206-448 per kg.
Capsicum prices increased from Rs1,100 to Rs1,200 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs300 to Rs330 per kg, compared with Rs270-320 previously. The official rate was fixed at Rs242-303 per kg.
Prices of various varieties of pumpkin remained stable at Rs350-700 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs160 to Rs200 per kg against the official rate of Rs90-182 per kg.
Tinda prices increased from Rs750-1,050 to Rs850-1,450 per 5kg in the wholesale market. Retail prices ranged from Rs250 to Rs400 per kg, compared with Rs230-350 previously, while the official rate was fixed at Rs194-363 per kg. Eggplant prices declined from Rs280 to Rs230 per 5kg in the wholesale market. Retail prices ranged from Rs70 to Rs90 per kg, compared with Rs80-100 previously, while the official rate was Rs61-73 per kg.
Cauliflower prices fell from Rs750 to Rs650 per 5kg in the wholesale market. Retail prices ranged from Rs200 to Rs220 per kg, down from Rs220-250 previously, while the official rate was Rs145-169 per kg. Spinach prices declined from Rs200 to Rs170 per 5kg in the wholesale market. Retail prices ranged from Rs60 to Rs70 per kg, compared with Rs70-80 previously, while the official rate was Rs48-55 per kg. Cabbage prices remained stable at Rs650 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs175 to Rs200 per kg against the official rate of Rs157-182 per kg.
Fresh bean prices increased from Rs800 to Rs1,000 per 5kg in the wholesale market. Retail prices ranged from Rs270 to Rs330 per kg, compared with Rs230-260 previously, while the official rate was Rs242-290 per kg. Okra prices declined from Rs800 to Rs700 per 5kg in the wholesale market. Retail prices ranged from Rs180 to Rs210 per kg, down from Rs225-250 previously, while the official rate was Rs169-194 per kg.
Carrot prices remained stable at Rs700 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs175 to Rs200 per kg against the official rate of Rs157-182 per kg. Bitter gourd prices fell from Rs800 to Rs700 per 5kg in the wholesale market. Retail prices ranged from Rs200 to Rs220 per kg, compared with Rs220-250 previously, while the official rate was Rs169-194 per kg.
Green chilli prices declined from Rs550 to Rs450 per 5kg in the wholesale market. Retail prices ranged from Rs150 to Rs175 per kg, down from Rs170-200 previously, while the official rate was Rs121-130 per kg. Taro root prices remained stable at Rs400 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs120 to Rs130 per kg against the official rate of Rs97-109 per kg. Cucumber prices fell from Rs320 to Rs275 per 5kg in the wholesale market. Retail prices ranged from Rs100 to Rs150 per kg, compared with Rs120-170 previously, while the official rate was Rs73-85 per kg.
Ridge gourd prices remained stable at Rs500 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs140 to Rs160 per kg against the official rate of Rs121-133 per kg. Prices of newly arrived peas remained stable at Rs1,600 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retail prices ranged from Rs450 to Rs500 per kg.
The official price list is issued in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, allowing retailers a profit margin of Rs10-20 per kg in areas near wholesale markets, Rs15-30 per kg in most parts of the capital and Rs20-40 per kg in upscale areas.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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