ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items registered a further increase during this week past against the preceding week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday.

The survey observed that prices of most of the vegetables, chicken and fruits during this week registered an increase while the prices of non-perishable daily use items including rice, spices, pulses, wheat flour and others remained unchanged.

Chicken prices with a raise of Rs 500 per 40kg increased from Rs 5,000 per 40kg to Rs 6,000 per 40kg which in retail market is being sold at Rs 185 per kg against Rs 165 per kg, while chicken meat price crossed Rs 300 per kg against Rs 260 per kg. Eggs prices remained stable at Rs 125 per dozen which in retail market are being sold at Rs 135-140 per dozen.

During the week under review, tomatoes price remained stable at Rs 700 per 15kg box, onions price went up from Rs 250 per 5kg to Rs 270 per 5kg and potatoes price went down from 230 per 5kg to Rs 200 per 5kg. In retail market, onion was being sold at Rs 65 per kg against Rs 60 per kg, tomatoes at Rs 80 per kg and potatoes at Rs 45-50 per kg against Rs 55 per kg.

The price of various qualities of garlic slightly came down as desi garlic is available at Rs 450 per 5kg against Rs 500 per 5kg and Quetta garlic at Rs 550 per 5kg against Rs 600 per 5 kg, while Chinese garlic was available at Rs 750 per 5kg against Rs 900 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 125-175 per kg. Ginger price came down from Rs 800 per 5kg to Rs 750 per 5kg which in retail was being sold at Rs 180 per kg against Rs 190 per kg.

During the week under review, prices of the entire range of non-perishable kitchen remained stable as best quality rice was available at Rs 130 per kg, wheat at Rs 750 per 20kg bag and sugar was being sold at Rs 60 per kg. Prices of all the major pulses witnessed no change as white lentil (Maash) was being sold at Rs 180 per kg, good quality grams at Rs 200 per kg, kidney bean (Lobia) in the range of Rs 120-140 per kg, green gram (Moong) at Rs 120 per kg and red lentils (Masoor) at Rs 110 per kg.

Spinach was being sold at Rs 150 per 5kg in wholesales market while in retail market it was being sold at Rs 25 per bundle and mint was being sold at Rs 200 per 5 kg against Rs 150 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 25 per bundle.

Capsicum price went up from Rs 550 per 5kg to Rs 580 per 5kg which in retail market was still being sold at Rs 130 per kg; peas price went up from Rs 450 per 5kg to Rs 500 per 5kg in wholesales market, which in retail market were being sold at Rs 110 per kg against Rs 100 per kg; taro’s (arvi) price further went down from Rs 220 per 5kg to Rs 200 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 50 per kg; carrot price went up from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 230 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 55 per kg against Rs 50 per kg; and a pack of 8kg radish remained stable at Rs 100 per pack which in retail market was being sold at Rs 25 per kg.

Okra price went up from Rs 750 per 5kg to Rs 800 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 180 per kg against Rs175 per kg, price of ridge gourd (tori) went up from Rs 320 per 5kg to Rs 350 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 80 per kg. Cauliflower price came down from Rs 300 per 5kg to Rs 240 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 75 per kg while cabbage price remained unchanged at Rs 200 per 5kg, which in retail market was being sold at Rs 50 per kg.

Brinjal price further went up from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 280 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 65 per kg against Rs 50 per kg, cucumber price went up from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 230 per 5kg, while in retail market it was being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 50 per kg.

Price of apple gourd (tinda) further went up from Rs 220 per 5kg to Rs 230 per 5kg, which in retail market was being sold at Rs 55 per kg; pumpkin (maro kaddu) price went up from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 260 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 50 per kg; bitter gourd (karela) price went up from Rs 500 per 5kg to Rs 540 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 120 per kg.