ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items showed a declining trend this past week compared to the previous one, according to a survey conducted by Business Recorder on Saturday.
The survey noted no change in sugar prices, which remain at Rs 7,500 per 50 kg bag in wholesale markets, while in retail sugar is being sold between Rs155–170 per kg. Wheat flour prices, however, recorded a reduction: wholesale rates dropped from Rs 2,150 to Rs 2,000 per 15 kg bag, while retail prices fell from Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,050 per 15 kg bag.
Despite the decrease in flour prices, tandoor owners have kept the rates of Roti, Naan, and Paratha unchanged. Roti continues to sell at Rs20, Naan at Rs23–25, and Paratha at Rs60. No changes were observed in bakery and confectionery items. Normal-sized bread is available at Rs150 (previously Rs140), small-sized bread at Rs110, and family-sized bread at Rs210.
The survey observed a slight increase in chicken prices as it went up from Rs 13,700 to Rs 14,000 per 40 kg in wholesale market while in retail chicken is being sold at Rs 375-390 against Rs365-370 per kg, while chicken meat is available in the range of Rs630-680 against Rs620-670 per kg varying area to area. Egg prices witnessed a significant reduction as it went down from Rs 10,300 to Rs 8,000 per carton containing 30 dozen the wholesale market, while in retail eggs are being sold in the range of Rs300-310 against Rs340-360 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 2,700-2,800 per kg, normal quality boneless beef is available at Rs1,500 per kg, and normal mixed beef at Rs1,300 per kg. Various varieties of fish are available in the range of Rs600 to Rs1000per kg.
The survey noted a mixed trend in ghee/cooking oil prices as B-grade ghee/oil is available at Rs 6,000 against Rs 6,250 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs400 against Rs410 per pack of 900 grams, while the best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee price remained stable at Rs 2,820 per 5kg tin which in retail are being sold at Rs 2,900 per 5-litre bottle.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) notified an increase in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price as OGRA has set the commodity price at Rs225 against Rs219.67 per kilogram, however the retailers are selling LPG at much higher rates as per kg LPG is being sold in the range of Rs330-350 against official rate of Rs225 while a domestic cylinder containing 15 kg LPG is being sold at Rs 4,700 against Rs 3,390, reflecting an overcharging of Rs 1,310 per domestic cylinder of 15 kg.
The marketing companies, distributors and retailers all are overcharging per domestic cylinder by 1,310 per cylinder and per kg by Rs130-150 as 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 witnessed no changes as the top quality basmati rice in wholesale market is available at Rs 11,900 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs340 per kg, normal quality Basmati at Rs 10,300 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs300 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati at Rs 7,700 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs230 per kg, while normal quality Basmati at Rs 5,000-5,900 per 40kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs140-180 per kg.
Tea prices have witnessed a reduction, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs 2,150 against Rs 2,200 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs 1,700 against Rs 1,800 per kg; turmeric powder and chilli powder prices witnessed no changes as turmeric powder is available Rs650 per kg in wholesale market which retailers are selling in the range of Rs700-1,000 per kg and red chilli powder price remained stable at Rs600 per kg which retailers selling at Rs700-850 per kg.
The prices of cooked food items remained stable as a cooked dal/vegetable plate at a normal hotel is available at Rs320, a cooked beef plate at Rs550, a cooked chicken plate at Rs500, cooked mutton at Rs750, and naan/roti is being sold at Rs25/30 and a cup of tea in the range of Rs70-100 per cup.
No changes were witnessed in the prices of branded spices such as Shan, National, and others, which are available at Rs150 per 39-gram pack.
Pulse prices witnessed no changes in wholesale as well as in retail market as maash pulse is available at Rs 12,800 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 per 40 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs240-250, best quality whole gram pulse wholesale is available at Rs 9,500 which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs 280-Rs300 per kg while normal gram pulse at Rs260 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils in the range of Rs400-500 per kg, moong pulse is available at Rs360, and masoor pulse is available at Rs260 per kg.
Past week the suppliers of packed milk brands had increased the milk prices but this week announcing special Ramadan offers the producers have withdrawn the prices of packed milk brands such Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others as per carton of litre pack is available at Rs 4,000 against Rs 4,300 per carton, however the retailers have not passed on the benefit to the end consumers as they are still sealing per litre milk pack at Rs380 per litre, the price of a carton of 250ml packed milk also went down from Rs 2,520 to Rs 2,450 which in market is being sold at Rs100 per 250ml. Fresh milk prices in some parts of the twin cities are being sold at Rs250 per litre, while in some parts are still being sold at Rs240 per litre, and the yogurt price is stable at Rs250 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 Rs750 per pack.
Overall bathing soaps’ prices remained stable as Safeguard is available at Rs165 per pack, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolives, and others are available at Rs180 per pack, and detergent prices, such as Ariel Surf, Brite, Express Power, and others went up from Rs530per to Rs580 kg pack.
The prices of various brands of soft drinks such as Pepsi, Coke, Miranda, and others remained stable as a family-size bottle is available at Rs230.
Overall vegetable prices witnessed a mixed trend. Potatoes price slightly went down from Rs 1,100-1,300 to Rs1,00-1,200 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs40-60 per kg against the government fixed price of Rs19-24 per kg; onion price in wholesale market went up from 1,800-4,000 to Rs 2,000-4,500 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs45-70 against Rs40-60 while the government fixed price is Rs33-60 per kg and tomato prices went up from Rs700 to Rs950 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs100-120 against Rs80-100 while official price is fixed at Rs66-94 per kg.
Ginger price went up from 9,00-1,000 to Rs1,100-1,200 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs350-400 against official rate of Rs220-285 per kg, garlic prices went up as local garlic is available at Rs600 against Rs450 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs200-250, while official rate is set at Rs165-204 per kg, Quetta garlic price remained stable at Rs 1,200 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs300-350 per kg against official rate of Rs253-303 per kg and China garlic price went up from Rs 1,700 to Rs 2,000 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs500-550 against Rs400-450 per kg while government has set China garlic rate at Rs440-495 per kg, however majority of vendors are selling local garlic in the name of China/Quetta to maximize their profits.
Capsicum price went up from Rs475 to Rs500 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs140-160 against Rs130-150 while official price is fixed at Rs120-145 per kg, prices of various varieties of pumpkins went up from Rs170-300 to Rs150-400 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs60-150 against Rs60-120 while official price is set at Rs38-115 per kg; various types of tinda price went down from Rs400-500 to Rs300-375 per 5 kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs120-150 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs70-110 per kg; eggplant price is stable at Rs250 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs80-100 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs66-72 per kg; cauliflower price is stable at Rs150 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs50-60 while official price is fixed at Rs44-50 per kg and cabbage price went down from Rs230 to Rs150 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs60-70 against Rs65-75 while official rate is fixed at Rs44-50 per kg, fresh-bean price went down from Rs200 to Rs175 per 5 kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs75-80 against official price of at Rs55-60 per kg, peas price went down from Rs275 to Rs200 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs70-80 against Rs75-90 while official rate is fixed at Rs55-60 per kg. Okra price went down from Rs1,000 to Rs800 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs230-250 per kg against Rs250-275 while official rate is fixed at Rs198-230 per kg, carrot price went down from Rs150 to Rs120 per 5kg which in retail are being sold at Rs50-70 per kg against government fixed of Rs38-44 per kg, bitter-guard price went up from Rs350 to Rs450 per 5kg which in retail are being sold at Rs130-140 against Rs100-110 per kg while official rate is fixed at 110-120 per kg.
The official rate list is issued after close collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders with a profit margin of Rs10-20 per kg to the sellers around the wholesale market Rs15-30 per kg profit margin to most parts of the capital city and Rs20-40 profit margin for the sellers in posh areas. But still no vender, pushcart holder and shopkeeper is following the official price list.
Overall fruit prices witnessed an increasing trend as bananas are available at Rs90-220 per dozen, various varieties of apples in the range of Rs165-500 per kg, with white apples at Rs165 per kg cheapest and Iranian Kalakilo apple at Rs500 per kg, guava in the range of Rs80-150 against Rs60-110 per kg, various varieties of oranges in the range of Rs100-400 against Rs75-350 per dozen, various varieties of grapes in the range of Rs400-700 against Rs300-600 per kg and papaya in the range of Rs350-400 against Rs400-600 per kg.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026