ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items recorded a declining trend over the past week compared to the previous week, according to a survey conducted by Business Recorder.
The survey observed a significant reduction in sugar and vegetable prices as the sugar price in the wholesale market has plunged from Rs 9,500 to Rs 7,250 per 50-kg bag, or Rs 45 per kg reduction or 24 percent decline. Sugar, in the retail market, is being sold in the range of Rs 150-160 per kg, which a month ago was available in the range of Rs 190-200 per kg.
Wheat flour price also witnessed a reduction as it went down from Rs 1,880 to Rs 1,780 per 15-kg bag, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 1,830 against Rs 1,950 per 15-kg bag. However, the tandoor owners have kept the price of Roti, Naan, and Paratha unchanged, with Roti being sold at Rs 20, Naan at Rs 23-25, and Paratha at Rs 60. No fluctuation was witnessed in bakery and confectionery item prices, as normal-sized bread is available at Rs 140, and small-sized bread at Rs 100/110.
The survey observed an increase in chicken prices, which went up from Rs 13,400 to Rs 15,500 per 40 kg in the wholesale market, and, in retail, is being sold at Rs 415-430 against Rs 360-370 per kg, while chicken meat is available in the range of Rs 650-750 against Rs 600-700 per kg depending on area to area. According to traders, egg prices witnessed a significant reduction as per carton of eggs containing 30 dozen prices went down from Rs 10,500 to Rs 7,800 in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling eggs in the range of Rs 330-350 per dozen against Rs 350-370 per dozen. Mutton and beef prices remained stable as normal quality mutton is available at Rs 2,400 per kg, while the best quality is being sold in the range of Rs 2,700-2,8000 per kg, normal quality boneless beef is available at Rs 1,500 per kg, and normal mixed beef at Rs 1,300 per kg. Various varieties of fish are available in the range of Rs 600 to Rs 1000per kg.
The survey noted slight fluctuations in ghee/cooking oil prices as B-grade ghee/oil price went up Rs 6,100 to Rs 6,250 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 410 per pack of 900 grams, while the best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee price also remained unchanged at Rs 2,845 per 5kg tin which in retail are being sold at Rs 2,900 per 5-litre bottle.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price remained unchanged as official price is fixed at to Rs 210 per kg, however, in retail LPG is being sold at Rs 340-350 per kg and the domestic LGP cylinder of 15 kg is being sold at Rs 4,700 against the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) set price of Rs 3,015 reflecting an overcharging of Rs 1,685 per domestic cylinder containing 15 kg.
On December 1, 2025, the OGRA has notified an increase of Rs 9 per kg in LPG price for December 2025, increasing the cost of a 15-kg domestic LPG cylinder by Rs 135 compared with November, and fixed LPG at Rs 210 against Rs 201 per kg. But the marketing companies, distributors, and retailers all are overcharging per domestic cylinder by Rs 1,685 per cylinder and per kg by Rs 140-160 as the OGRA and other relevant authorities which include which local representatives, Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Tehsildars, Representatives of traders, farmers and retailers aren’t trying to monitor the market situation to enforce the official rates as a result consumers are compelled to pay high rates.
The prices of the various varieties of rice remained stable as the best quality basmati in wholesale market is available at Rs 12,000 per 40-kg bag, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 330 per kg, normal quality Basmati at Rs 10,700 per 40 kg bag, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 290 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati at Rs 8,000 per 40-kg bag, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 220 per kg, while normal quality Basmati is being sold in the range of Rs 5,500-6,5000 per 40-kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs 140-180 per kg.
No changes were witnessed in tea prices, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs 2,200 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs 1,800 per kg; in wholesale market turmeric powder price went down from Rs 730 to Rs 650 per kg which retailers are selling in the range of Rs700-1,000 per kg and red chilli powder price remained stable at Rs 600 per kg which retailers selling at Rs 700-850 per kg.
The prices of cooked food items remained stable, as a cooked dal/vegetable plate at a normal hotel is available at Rs 320, a cooked beef plate at Rs 550, a cooked chicken plate at Rs 500, cooked mutton at Rs 750, and naan/roti is being sold at Rs25/30 and a cup of tea in the range of Rs 70-100 per cup.
No changes were witnessed in the prices of branded spices such as Shan, National, and others, which are available at Rs 150 per 39-gram pack and sachet pack at Rs 70. However, traders told this correspondent that the suppliers are all set to increase the spice prices by Rs 10 per pack within the next few weeks, adding that the National FMG Company has informed the wholesalers of the new prices being notified soon.
Pulse prices witnessed a decline in wholesale market as maash pulse is available at Rs 12,800 against Rs 13,200 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs400-460 per kg, gram pulse price in wholesale market is available at Rs 8,000 against Rs 8,400 per 40 kg which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 240-250 against Rs 270 per kg. The best quality whole gram pulse is available at Rs 9,500, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 280-Rs 300 per kg, while normal gram pulse at Rs 260 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils in the range of Rs 400-500 per kg, moong pulse is available at Rs 360 against Rs 400 per kg, and masoor pulse is available at Rs 260 per kg.
Prices of packed milk brands Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others per litre pack remained stable at Rs 3800-4000 per carton, while in retail, a 250ml packed milk is being sold at Rs 95. Similarly, litre packs at Rs 360. Fresh milk prices in some parts of the twin cities are being sold at Rs 250 per litre, while in some parts are still being sold at Rs 240 per litre, and the yogurt price is stable at Rs 250 per kg. No changes were observed in the prices of powder milk, such as Nido and Lactogen, as 400-gram Nido powder milk is available at Rs 1,350, and a 200-gram pack at Rs 750 per pack.
Overall, bathing soaps’ prices remained stable as Safeguard is available at Rs 165 per pack, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolives, and others are available at Rs 180 per pack, and detergent prices, such as Ariel Surf, Brite, Express Power, and others, went down from Rs 590 to Rs 530 per kg pack.
The prices of various brands of cold drinks, such as Pepsi, Coke, Miranda, and others, remained stable as a family-size bottle is available at Rs 230.
Overall vegetable prices witnessed a declining trend as potato prices have touched the lowest level of the past seven years, which further went down from Rs 1500-2,300 to Rs 1,300-2,000 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs 50-80 against Rs 70-100 per kg while government fixed price is Rs 22-32 per kg. Onion price in the wholesale market went down from Rs 4,500-6,000 to Rs 3,300-4,800 per quintal, which, in retail, are being sold in the range of Rs 75-120 against the government fixed price of Rs 44-66 and tomato prices went down from Rs 550 to Rs 450 per basket of 15-kg, which, in retail, are still being sold in the range of Rs 70-100 against official price of Rs38-63 per kg.
Ginger price went down from Rs 1,250-1300 to Rs 1,150-1,200 per 5-kg in the wholesale market, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 400-450 per kg against official set rate of Rs 265-330 per kg, garlic prices went down as local garlic is available at Rs 450 against Rs 650 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 175-200 against Rs 200-230 while official rate is set at Rs 120-160 per kg, Quetta garlic price went up from Rs 1,200 to Rs1,300 per 5 kg, which, in retail, is being sold at Rs 300-350 against Rs 265-290 per kg and China garlic price went down from Rs 1,650 to Rs 1,500 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 350-400 against Rs 400-425 per kg. The government has set the China garlic rate at Rs 297-340 per kg, while the majority of vendors are selling local garlic in the name of China/Quetta to maximize their profits.
Capsicum price went further down from Rs 400 to Rs 375 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs 120-130 against Rs 130-150 while official price is fixed at Rs 88-99 per kg, prices of various varieties of pumpkins remained stable at Rs 180-350 per 5kg in wholesale market, which, in retail are being sold in the range of Rs 55-120; various types of tinda price went up from Rs 300-400 to Rs 400-450 per 5 kg, which, in retail, are being sold in the range of Rs1 30-150 against Rs120-135 per kg while government has fixed rates of Rs 110-120 per kg; eggplant price went down from Rs 220 to Rs 120 per 5kg, which, in retail, are being sold in the range of Rs 55-70 against Rs 75-90 per kg while official rates are fixed at Rs 33-39 per kg; cauliflower price went up from Rs 120 to Rs 130 per 5-kg pack in the wholesale market, which, in retail, is being sold in the range of Rs 50-70 against officially fixed of Rs35-39 per kg and cabbage price went down from Rs 300 to Rs 275 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 80-100 against Rs100-120 while official price is fixed at Rs60-66 per kg, fresh bean price went down from Rs 350 to Rs 320 per 5 kg which, in retail, are being sold in the range of Rs 100-120 against Rs 120-130 while official rate is fixed at Rs 77-82 per kg, peas price is stable at Rs 350 per 5kg which, in retail, are being sold in the range of Rs 100-120 against Rs 120-150 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs 77-88 per kg.
The official rate list is issued after close collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders with giving a profit margin of Rs 10 per kg to the sellers around the wholesale market, Rs 15-25 per kg profit margin to most parts of the capital city, and Rs 20-40 profit margin for the sellers in posh areas. But still, no vendor, pushcart holder, or shopkeeper is following the official price list.
Fruit witnessing a declining trend as bananas are available in the range of Rs 55-140 against Rs75-140 per dozen, various varieties of apples in the range Rs100-350 against Rs100-400 per kg, with white apples at Rs 100 per kg cheapest and Kalakilo apple at Rs 350 per kg, guava in the range of Rs 55-120 against Rs 90-150 per kg, various varieties of oranges in the range of Rs 80-300 against Rs 120-250 per dozen, various varieties of grapes in the range of Rs 275-500 against Rs 220-450 per kg and pomegranates in the range of Rs 600-800.
People have urged the authorities to either enforce an official price list or stop doing such an exercise, which has no benefit to the masses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025