Kitchen items stay on high side

TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD: Prices of most of the essential kitchen items remained on the high side during last week as compared to the preceding week, reveals a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Saturday.

Traders and wholesalers in different markets of the twin cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad told this scribe that prices of vegetables, fruits, pulses, rice, ghee/cooking oil and yogurt increased in the week under review as compared to the preceding week.

Survey revealed that prices of most of the vegetables remained on high side and no downward change was observed. Tomato was available at Rs 60 per kg, Shimla mirch at Rs 80 per kg, potato at Rs 30 per kg, arvi at Rs 50, green chilies at Rs 120-130 per kg, cucumber at Rs 40 per kg, okra at Rs 150-80 per kg, Karaila at Rs 100-120 per kg, ladyfinger at Rs 120 per kg and Tinda at Rs 60 per kg. Yogurt price reached Rs 70 per kg with an increase of Rs 2 per kg.

Ghee and cooking oil prices increased by Rs 2 to Rs 5 per 5-kg/liter, while Rs 20 to Rs 30 per 16-kg of different brands. Rice prices increased during last one month. Traders are expecting a sharp increase in ghee/cooking oil prices in coming weeks.

During the week under review, super colonel price increased by Rs 5 per kg, basmati prices increased by Rs 3 per kg while broken rice price increased by Rs 5 per kg. Basin price increased from Rs 80 to Rs 120 per kg during last few weeks.

Prices of entire range of pulses remained on high side during last week as mash was available at Rs 160 per kg, moong at Rs 120 per kg, masoor at Rs 125 per kg, chana at Rs 100 and lobia at Rs 100 per kg. Sugar prices remained unchanged during the week under review as compared to the preceding week.

The survey noted that fruit prices remained on high side and no decline was observed in fruit prices during the week under review as compared to the preceding week. Guava price increased from Rs 70 to Rs 100. Orange was available at Rs 120 per dozen, banana at Rs 100 to Rs 200; apple at Rs 150-200, strawberry at Rs 250 per kg, while melon at Rs 300 per 5-kg.