Peshawar witnesses sharp increase in prices of major food items

PESHAWAR: Prices of flour, onion, tomatoes and other daily use items have sharply increased in the retail market, according to a weekly market survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Sunday.

Traders and wholesalers in the provincial metropolis Peshawar told this scribe that prices of flour have increased due to consistent ban on wheat and flour supply from Punjab to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and expressed fear the prices would further go up in the coming day.

A 20-kg flour bag has increased at Rs3,200 against the price of Rs3,000 and Rs2,900 in the wholesale and retail market which was selling at Rs2,700 and Rs2,500 respectively in the previous week, the survey said.

Likewise, the price of a 80-kg sac has gone up at Rs14,000 against the price of Rs13,000 in the wholesale market.

Similarly, the price of onion has touched a new peak after the unprecedented tomato price increase in the capital. Onion was available at Rs200-180 per kilogramme against the price of Rs80-`100 per kilogramme.

The survey noted that the price of tomatoes remained unchanged as the commodity is being sold at Rs400 per kilogramme against the price of Rs350/kg.

Likewise, a bullish trend retained in prices of cooking oil/ghee of various brands.

Prices of live chicken/meat has increased at Rs390 from Rs330/kg against in the previous week, showing an Rs60 per kilogramme in the retail market.

The survey revealed, a one kilogramme cow meat without bone is being sold at Rs1,350 and cow meat with bone at Rs1,500 per kilogramme against the official rates of Rs900 per kilogramme announced by local authorities concerned, the survey said.

The price of mutton beef was being sold from Rs2,800 to Rs3,000 per kg in the open market, the survey added.

Similarly, the price of sugar remained firm as no change was recorded and the commodity is being sold at Rs152 per kilogramme in the retail market.

Lemon was available at Rs400 per kilogramme against the price of Rs500 per kilogramme while green chili was being sold at Rs100-150 per kilogramme, the survey said.

Prices of LPG gas also remained high in the open market, the survey said.

One kilogramme sugar was being sold at Rs150 against the price of Rs 160 per kilogramme, the survey said.

Buyers have complained that prices of food grains, especially those which were daily use items in the kitchen, were beyond their purchasing power.

The soaring prices continue to break the back of the common man, they said.

Prices of pulses remained unchanged in the retail market, according to the survey.

The survey said good quality (sela) was available at Rs 360 per kilogramme, while low quality rice was available at Rs 300-320 per kilogramme, while toota rice was available at Rs 200-220 per kilogramme.

Similarly, the survey furthermore said dal mash was available at Rs480, dal masoor at Rs320 per kilogramme, dal chilka (black) at Rs320 per kilogramme, dal chilka (green) at Rs260 per kilogramme, moonge at Rs400 per kilogramme, dhoti dal at Rs400 per kilogramme, dal Channa at Rs450 per kilogramme, red bean at Rs440 per kilogramme, Gram flour (baisen) at Rs420 per kilogramme against Rs280 per kilogramme, big-size white Channa at Rs380 per kilogramme, small-size white channa from Rs360 per kilogramme.

Fruits, which are staple, but prices, are sky-rocketed in the local market, according to the survey.

Apple was available at Rs400-500 per kilogramme, banana at Rs200 per dozen, garma at Rs300-400 per piece, mangoes at Rs200 and Rs300 per kilogramme, leechi at Rs1000 per kilogram, Jaman at Rs800 per kilogramme.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026