Prices of food stuff and commodities have skyrocketed in markets of provincial metropolis, since the beginning of holy month of Ramazan, according to survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Sunday. A visit to some of markets in provincial capital by this scribe, showed the prices of fruit, vegetable chicken, and other grocery items, doubled, while some other increase by 70 to 80 per cent. Despite the displaying official rates, consumers are charging artificial rates in various markets of the city.
Gram flour (baisen) has touched new peak of Rs 120 from Rs 70-60 per kilogram, due to its increasing demand in the holy month. Similarly, gram pulse is being sold at Rs 110 per kilogram, which was selling at Rs 90 per kg a few days back. Good-quality rice is available at Rs 130 against the official rates of Rs 100 per kilogram. Sugar price now ranges between Rs62 and Rs64 per kg as compared to Rs55 per kg last month, while the current official rate of sugar is Rs58 per kg.
Similarly, price of dal mach is costlier as available Rs 190 per kilogram, dal green being sold at Rs 160 per kg, against the official rate of Rs 120 per kg. Red beans priced at Rs 120 against Rs 100 per kg.
Likewise, white lobiya available at Rs 130 per kg, dal masoor sold at Rs 140 per kg. Kabuli white and black channa are priced at Rs110 and Rs120 per kg as compared to their control rate of Rs75 and Rs55 per kg, respectively. Last month these items were available below Rs100 per kg in retail. Moong has further become costlier and is being sold at Rs160 per kg. Its official rate is Rs 120. Dal masoor priced at Rs 140 against the Rs 110 during last week.
According to survey, prices of cooking oil/ghee also showed a sharp increase as a good quality cooking oil available at Rs 165 per litre, against Rs 140 before the Ramazan, while a one-kg packet of ghee is being sold at Rs 150 against the official rate of Rs 130.
A price of fruit, which is staple food in the holy month of Ramazan, is also surged up by 70 to 80 per cent. Apple is available at Rs 200 per kilogram mango at Rs 100-120 per kg, apricot at Rs 150 per kg, Nectarines is available with range of Rs 130-150 per kg, watermelon being sold at Rs 40 per kg. A one-dozen banana is available at Rs 80-100 in market, while a one-kg plum being sold at Rs 70.
The survey also noticed upward trend in prices of syrups, and juices, which are widely used in Ramazan, are being sold in black and consumers are charged with manifold rates by vendors.
Prices of veggies also registered increase in market by 30 to 45 per cent. A one-kilogram tomato is being sold at Rs 70, while onion available at Rs 40 per kg. A one-kg ginger priced at Rs 280 against the Rs 160 during last week. Garlic is available at Rs 150 per kg. A sharper increase witnessed in rate of potato as five-kilogram available at Rs 150, due to its increasing demand in Ramazan, which was selling at Rs 70 (five-Kg), before the start of the holy month. Price of lemon is also costlier as available at Rs 200 per kg, which was sold at Rs 150 during last week. The rates of other veggies, also registered a manifold increase.
According to survey, an upward trend was witnessed in prices of chicken, beef, and mutton. Good-weight chickens live available at Rs 350-380 against the Rs 270 during last week. The current official rate of chicken is Rs 195 per kilogram in the market. However, the vendors are continuously charging consumers with artificial rates.
Residents appealed the provincial government to keep check on rising prices and implement its official rates in letter and spirit. "We do not have options on issues like this because it is something that you must buy, the residents said. "Every year we face this kind of rise in prices of food stuff when about to begin the month of Ramazan. We only see what we are able to buy," Jamal Khan, a resident of Peshawar said.
Comments
Comments are closed.