The prices of most of the kitchen items once again started increasing, especially vegetables and fruits, during past week against previous week, according to survey carried out by Business Recorder. The prices of onion, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, mutton, beef, potatoes, okra, peas, bengan, beans, shimla mirch, cauliflower, lemon and chicken increased by Rs 10 to Rs 40 per kg.
Onion was available at Rs 120 per 5 kg at wholesale market, while in retail market it was available at Rs 30 per kg against previous week's Rs 25 per kg. Tomatoes cost Rs 30 per kg against previous week's Rs 25, Potatoes are available at Rs 30 per kg against last week prices of Rs 20 per kg. Similarly prices of live chicken and chicken meat increased by Rs 10 per kg and Rs 20 per kg. Last week live chicken was available at Rs 110 per kg, while chicken meat was available at Rs 200 per kg, which this week are being sold at Rs 120 per kg and Rs 220 per kg. Mutton and beef prices have increased by Rs 20 per kg and Rs 10 per kg, last week mutton and beef were available at Rs 400 per kg and Rs 250 per kg, which at present are being sold at Rs 420 per kg and Rs 260 per kg.
Okra and karela prices increased by Rs 10 per kg and Rs 30 per kg, last week okra was being sold at Rs 70 per kg and karela at Rs 40 per kg, which are now being sold at Rs 80 per kg and Rs 70 per kg.
Prices of garlic, lemon and ginger registered increase of Rs 40 to Rs 80 per kg. During last week garlic was being sold at Rs 160 per kg, lemon at Rs 120 and ginger at Rs 180 per kg, which this week past have jumped to Rs 200 per kg, Rs 200 per kg and Rs 240 per kg Niaz Mohammed, a meat-seller, told Business Recorder that in some areas of twin cities mutton is being sold at Rs 450 per kg, while in most areas it is being sold at Rs 420 to Rs 440 per kg.
About different prices being charged by meat sellers, he said that there are many reasons behind increasing meat prices including animals export to Afghanistan and Middle East countries. Some of the traders are purchasing meat from government administered butcher-house at prescribed rates, where buffalo meat costs Rs 200 per kg and goat meat cost Rs 400 per kg, while meat sellers in retail market are selling mutton at Rs 420-Rs 450 depending on the distance from the butcher-house, he added.
Niaz said that in some parts of the twin cities, local butchers have established private butcher houses and these traders as compared to those purchasing meat from government run butcher house are selling meat at lower prices. The prices of cucumber decreased from Rs 25 per kg to Rs 20 per kg, eggs from Rs 72 per dozen to Rs 56 per dozen and carrot from Rs 20 to Rs 15 per kg.
Prices of sugar, cooking oil/ghee, pulses, entire range of spices, wheat flour, rice, LPG and tea (packed and loose) remained unchanged. Prices of most of the fruits including apples, strawberry, melon, water-melon, guava registered increase. Apples are being sold at Rs 125 kg, guava at Rs 70 per kg, melon at Rs 60 per kg, water-melon at Rs 30 per kg, strawberry at Rs 200 per kg against the prices of corresponding week when apple was sold at Rs 110 per kg, guava at Rs 50-60 per kg, strawberry at Rs 160 per kg, and melon at Rs 50 per kg.