ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed an increasing trend during the last week compared with the previous week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Saturday revealed.
The survey observed an increase of Rs600 per 40 kg of chicken price as it went up from Rs11,600 to Rs12,200 per 40 kg in wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs330-345 against Rs320-340 per kg, while chicken meat price went up from Rs430-450 to Rs450-470 per kg varying area to area. Egg price with an increase of 300 per carton went up from Rs5,900 to Rs6,200 per carton containing 30 dozen in the wholesale market, while in retail eggs are being sold in the range of Rs230-245 against Rs225-235 per dozen.
Meat prices remained stable as normal quality mutton is available in the range of Rs2,700-2,800 per kg, the best quality in the range of Rs3,000-3,200 per kg, normal quality boneless beef at Rs1,700 per kg, and normal mixed beef at Rs1,500 per kg. Prices of the various varieties of fish also remained stable as different varieties of fishes are available in the range of Rs550-1,000 per kg.
Sugar price went down from Rs7,000 to Rs6,900 per 50 kg bag in wholesale markets, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs150-160 per kg, while official rate is fixed at Rs148 per kg.
Wheat flour price went up from Rs1,780 to Rs1,835 per 15 kg bag in the wholesale market, while in retail it is being sold at Rs1,860-1,880 against Rs1,810-1,830 per 15kg bag. Roti, Naan and Paratha prices remained stable as roti is being sold at Rs20, Naan at Rs30, and Paratha at Rs60. No changes were observed in bakery and confectionery items. Normal-sized bread is available at Rs150 against Rs140, small-sized bread at Rs110, and family-sized bread at Rs210.
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, while at some tea stalls a cup of tea price has reduced from Rs70 to Rs50, however majority of the restaurant operators are selling a cup of tea in the range of Rs70-100 per cup.
No changes were observed in branded spices prices which at present are being supplied under a special promotional scheme by the produces with a reduction of Rs20 per pack of various spices price from Rs150 per 39-gram pack to Rs130 per pack. Ghee/cooking oil prices remained stable as B-grade ghee/oil price is stable at Rs6,600 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is still being sold at Rs430 per pack of 900 grams, while the best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee is available at Rs2,880 per 5kg tin which in retail are being sold at Rs3,000 per 5-litre bottle.
Officially, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has fixed Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price at Rs241.43 per kilogram, however the LPG marketing companies, distributors and retailers are selling the commodity at more than double of the official price as in hilly areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jamu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa LPG is being sold in the range of Rs500-600 per kg while in cities like Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the range of Rs380-400 per kg against official the rate. While a domestic LPG cylinder containing 15 kg in hilly areas costs Rs5,000-6,000 against official rate of Rs3,622, which is Rs1,378-2,378 higher than the official rate, while in urban areas the commodity is being sold at Rs5,000 per cylinder.
The prices of the various varieties of rice witnessed a slight reduction as the top quality basmati rice price went down from Rs15,000 to Rs1,4500 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs420 against Rs430 per kg, normal quality Basmati from Rs13,000 to Rs12,400 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs360 against Rs375 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati from Rs10,500 to Rs10,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs280 against Rs300 per kg, while normal quality broken Basmati from Rs7,500-8,000 to Rs7,100-7,500 per 40kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs200-220 per kg.
Tea prices remained stable, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs 2,000 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea price at Rs1,800 per kg; turmeric powder price in wholesale market went remained stable at Rs650 per kg while retailers are selling it in the range of Rs800-1,000 per kg and red chilli powder price went down from Rs650 to Rs600 per kg, which retailers selling at Rs800-1,000 per kg.
Pulses prices witnessed no changes as maash pulse in wholesale market is available at Rs13,500 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs420-450 per kg, gram pulse at Rs8,500 per 40 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs250-260 per kg, best quality whole gram at Rs9,200 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs270-290 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils at Rs15,200-17,200, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs410-520 per kg, moong pulse at Rs12,000 per 40kg, which in retail is available at Rs330 per kg, and masoor pulse at Rs8,300 per 40 kg which in retail is available at Rs260 per kg.
Packed milk prices such as Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others witnessed no changes as per carton of litre pack is available at Rs4,250 per carton, while in retail per litre pack is being sold at Rs380 and the price of a carton of 250ml also remained stable at Rs2,530 per carton which in market is being sold at Rs100 per 250ml. Fresh milk price across the twin cities remained stable at Rs260 per litre, while in some parts especially posh sectors fresh milk is being sold at 280 per litre, and the yogurt price also remained stable Rs280 per kg, while in posh sectors it is being sold in the range of Rs280-300 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 Rs1,100, and a 200 gram pack at Rs750 per pack.
Overall bathing soaps’ prices remained stable as Safeguard family size 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 Rs580 to Rs600 per 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.
The vegetable prices witnessed an increasing trend. Potatoes price went slightly up from Rs1,300-2,200 to Rs1400-2,500 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs50-60 per kg and official price is fixed at Rs24-39 per kg; onion price witnessed an increase as it went up from Rs3,800-6,600 to Rs5,500-8,000 per quintal.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026