ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items witnessed a mixed trend during the past week as compared to the preceding week, reveals a survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Saturday.

According to the survey, the price of tomatoes in the wholesale market registered a further reduction of Rs 30 per 5kg from Rs 120 to Rs 90, while it is being sold in the range of Rs 25-30 per kg in the retail market.

Best quality potatoes’ price also came down by Rs 25 per 5 kg from Rs 125 to Rs 100 per 5kg, while the price of normal quality of potatoes reduced from Rs 90 to 75 per 5kg. Potatoes are being sold at Rs 20-25 per kg against Rs 30-35 per kg in the retail market.

According to the survey, the price of onions also came down by Rs 10 per 5kg from Rs 130 to Rs 120 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which is being sold at the rate of Rs 30 per kg against Rs 35 per kg in the retail market.

No change was witnessed in the price of ginger in the wholesale market and it is available with Rs 500 per 5kg, while it is being sold at Rs 140 per kg in the retail market.

There was also no change in the price of garlic, which is being sold at Rs 1,400 per 5kg in the wholesales market and at Rs 320 per kg in retail market.

Lemon’s price went up by Rs 100 per 5kg from Rs 300 to Rs 400 per 5kg, and it is being sold at Rs 100 per kg against Rs 80 per kg in the retail market.

During the week under review, price of chicken witnessed a slight increase in the wholesales and retail markets as live chicken’s price in wholesales market saw an increase of Rs 300 per 40kg from Rs 42,000 to Rs 4,500, and it is being sold at Rs 130 per kg against Rs 120 per kg in the retail market.

Chicken meat is being sold at Rs 210 per kg against Rs 180 per kg, while different qualities of fish are being available in the range of Rs 180 to Rs 350 per kg.

Sugar price didn’t witness nay change which is being available at Rs 3,200 per 50kg bag in wholesales market while in retail it is being sold at Rs 75 per kg. The wheat flour witnessed no change which is being sold at Rs 760 per 20kg bag in retail.

Egg prices are still on the increase which in wholesales market are being sold at Rs 130 per dozen while in retail at 136 per dozen.

Brinjal is being available at Rs 120-150 per 5kg in wholesales market while in retail market it is being available at Rs 30-40 per kg; carrot price reduced from Rs 130 per 5kg to Rs 100 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 25 per kg against Rs 30/35 per kg. Cucumber price went up from Rs 150 per 5kg to Rs 250 per 5kg which in retail market is being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 40 per kg. The price of a pack of 8kg radish in wholesales market reduced by Rs 20 per bundle and is being available at Rs 80 against Rs 100, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 15 per kg against Rs 20 per kg.

Peas prices went up by Rs 30 per 5kg from Rs 220 to Rs 250 per 5kg which in retail market are being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 55 per kg. kadu prices remained stable at Rs 200-250 per 5kg in wholesales market while in retail it is being sold at Rs 50-60 per kg. Kareela price went down by Rs 50 per 5 kg from Rs 350 to Rs 300 per 5kg which is being sold at Rs 70 per kg against Rs 80 per kg in retail market. Arvi price remained stable at Rs 250 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 70 per kg.

Cauliflower price went down by Rs 20 per 5kg from Rs 120 to Rs 100 per 5kg and cabbage prices were found stable at Rs 150 per 5kg. The cauliflower in retail market is being sold at Rs 30 per kg against Rs 35 per kg, while cabbage at Rs 40 per kg. Capsicum price went further down from Rs 350 to Rs 300 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 80 per kg and okra price reduced from Rs 600 to Rs 500 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 120 per kg against Rs 140 per kg. Beans price in wholesales market is stable at Rs 200 per 5kg, which in retail market are being sold at Rs 50 per kg.

Good quality ghee/cooking oil brands like Dalda per 5kg tin is being available at Rs 850, while normal ghee/cooking oil like Phool and Fauji brands are being available at Rs 130 per kg.

There remained no change in pulses prices as dal mash is being available at Rs 18,000 per quintal in wholesales market, Dal moong at Rs 11,000 per quintal, lobia at Rs 9,000 per quintal, Masoor at Rs 11,800 per quintal, dal channa at Rs 11,500 per quintal and kabali channa at Rs 13,000 per quintal. In retail moong is being sold at Rs135 per kg, lobia at 115 per kg, Maash at Rs200 per kg, Masoor at Rs140 per kg, dal channa at Rs 145 per kg and Kabali channa at Rs 160 per kg.

No change in the prices of other essential kitchen items including rice, spices, milk, ghee/cooking oil, salt, wheat flour and others was witnessed. LPG is being sold at Rs 115 per kg and a domestic LPG cylinder of 15kg is being available at Rs 1,550.

Prices of most of the fruits during the week under review witnessed a declining trend as good quality local banana is being sold at Rs 60 per dozen against Rs 80 per dozen, and normal quality at Rs 30 per dozen against Rs 50 per dozen, fresh arrival best quality orange at Rs 100 per dozen while normal quality at Rs 60-80 per dozen, pomegranates at Rs 150-200 per kg, guava is being sold at Rs40 per kg against Rs50 per kg, apples are in the range of Rs 70 to Rs 250 per kg, while good quality grapes are being sold at Rs 180 per kg.