ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items witnessed a decline in the past week compared to preceding week, revealed a survey conducted by Business Recorder on Saturday.

According to the survey details, prices of most of the vegetables including onions, tomatoes, garlic, potatoes, ginger, mint, spinach and others have gone down, while prices of chicken, eggs and other household items remained stable in the market.

A box weighing 15kg tomatoes went down from Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,200 per box, onions price went down from Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,000 per quintal and potatoes price further went down from Rs 2,700 to Rs 2,600 per quintal. Ginger price went down from Rs 1,000 to Rs 750 per 5kg, which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 180 against Rs 220 per kg, and various qualities of garlic are being sold in the range of Rs 600 to Rs 700 per 5kg, which in the retail are available at Rs 140-160 per kg.

Spinach price reduced from Rs 120 to Rs 50 per 5kg and in the retail market its one bundle weighing one kilogram is being available at Rs 15. The price of mint reduced from Rs 70 to Rs 50 per 5kg which is being sold at Rs 10 against Rs 15 per bundle. Capsicum price went down further from Rs 650 to Rs 600 per 5kg, which in the retail market it is being sold at Rs 140 against Rs 150 per kg.

Price of peas reduced from Rs 1,000 to Rs 900 per 5kg in the wholesales market, which in the retail market are being sold at Rs 200 per kg and taro’s (arvi) price also reduced from Rs 150 to Rs 120 per 5kg which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 40 per kg, carrot price further went down from Rs 250 to Rs 200 per 5kg which in the retail is being sold at Rs 50 per kg against Rs 60 per kg, and price of a radish pack weighing 8kg went down from Rs 250 to Rs 160 per pack which in retail is being sold at Rs 25 against Rs40 per kg.

Chicken price remained stable at Rs 4,400 per 40kg which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 130, while chicken meat is being sold at Rs 190. The eggs price was also found to be stable at Rs 105 per dozen in the wholesale market at Rs 100 per dozen which in the retail market are still being sold at Rs 115-120 per dozen.

During the week under review, prices of all non-perishable kitchen items remained stable as best quality rice is available at Rs 130 per kg, wheat flour at Rs 740 per 20kg bag, gram pulse at Rs 200 per kg and sugar at Rs 60 per kg.

Prices of all major pulses witnessed no change as Maash is being sold at Rs 180 per kg, good quality grams at Rs 200 per kg, lobia in the range of Rs 120-Rs 140 per kg, Moong at Rs 120 per kg and Masoor at Rs 110 per kg.

Okra price went down further from Rs 225 to Rs 200 per 5kg which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 50 against Rs 60 per kg, price of ridge gourd (tori) went down from Rs 400 to Rs 300 per 5kg which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 75 against Rs 90 per kg. Cauliflower price went up from Rs 150 to Rs 225 per 5kg which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 55 against Rs 45 per kg. The price of cabbage went down further from Rs 200 to Rs 150 per 5kg, which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 45 against Rs 50 per kg.

Lemon price remained stable at Rs 500 per kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 120 per kg, brinjal price went down from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 100 per 5kg which in retail market is being sold at Rs30 per kg against Rs 50 per kg, cucumber price went down from Rs 300 per 5kg to Rs 200 per 5kg in wholesale market, while in retail market it is being sold at Rs 50 per kg against Rs 70 per kg.

Apple gourd (tinda) price reduced from Rs 400 per 5kg to Rs 280 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 70 per kg against Rs 100 per kg, pumpkin (kaddu) price went down from Rs 300 per 5kg to Rs 250 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 70 per kg, bitter gourd (karela) price reduced from Rs 600 per 5kg to Rs 200 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 150 per kg.

Fruit prices remained stable during the week under review as good quality banana is available at Rs 70 per dozen, and normal quality banana at Rs 40-50 per dozen. Best quality guava is available at Rs 70 per kg and normal quality guava at Rs 40 per kg. New arrival pomegranates are available at Rs 1,600 per box of 16kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 150 per kg, while a box of 16 kg persimmon (Japani Phal) is available at Rs 500 which in retail is being sold at Rs 50 per kg.

Normal quality white apple is being sold at Rs 60 per kg, Chinese apple at Rs 200 per kg while New Zeeland apples are being sold at Rs 250 per kg. Various qualities of grapes are being sold in the range of Rs 90 to Rs 180 per kg.