ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

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

The survey observed that the price of live chicken further went up from Rs5,400 to Rs5,700 per 40kg in wholesale market which in retail market was being sold at Rs180-190 per kg against Rs170 per kg, and chicken meat price increased from Rs290 to Rs320 per kg. The eggs prices in wholesale market went down from Rs80 per dozen to Rs77 per dozen which in retail market were being sold at Rs85 per dozen. Mutton and beef prices witnessed no change as mutton was being sold at Rs850 per kg and beef was available at Rs450 per kg.

Potato price remained stable at Rs100 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs25 per kg, tomatoes price went up from Rs100 to Rs120 per 5kg while in retail market it was available at Rs35 per kg against Rs30 per kg, onions price remained stable at Rs120 per 5kg while in retail they were available at Rs30-35 per kg.

Price of local garlic came down from Rs350 to Rs250 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs70 per kg while Chinese garlic price went up from Rs430 to Rs450 per 5kg, which in retail market was being sold at Rs120 per kg against Rs110 per kg. Ginger price went up from Rs650 to Rs800 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs220 per kg against Rs170 per kg. Local lemon price went down from Rs1,200 to Rs1,050 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs250 per kg against Rs310 per kg while Chinese lemon price remained stable at Rs1,000 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs250 per kg in retail market.

The survey observed that prices of all the major pulses remained stable as white lentil (Maash) was being sold at Rs120 per kg, good quality grams at Rs170 per kg, kidney bean (Lobia) in the range of Rs100-120 per kg, green gram (Moong) at Rs100 per kg and red lentil (Masoor) was being sold at Rs100 per kg.

Packed milk prices also remained unchanged as a carton of 9 liter milk was being sold at Rs1,300 per cotton, cooking oil/ghee price also witnessed no change as a 5-liter tin of best quality cooking oil/ghee was being sold at Rs880 per tin, while Lipton tea price remained stable at Rs840 per kg. Moreover price of most of other nonperishable food items remained stable as best quality rice was available at Rs130 per kg, wheat-flour at Rs750 per 20kg bag and sugar was being sold at Rs55-60 per kg.

Capsicum price went up from Rs120 to Rs200 per 5kg in wholesale market while in retail market it was sold at Rs45-50 per kg against Rs40-35 per kg; peas price went up from Rs200 to Rs280 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs70 per kg against Rs60 per kg; taro (arvi) price went up from Rs200 to Rs250 per 5kg which in retail was being sold at Rs65 per kg against Rs55 per kg; carrot price remained stable at Rs130 per 5kg while in retail market it was being sold at Rs35 per kg; and price of a pack of 8kg radish went up from Rs130 per pack to Rs150 per pack which in retail market was being sold at Rs30 per kg against Rs25 per kg.

Bean price went down from Rs230 to Rs200 per 5kg while in retail market it was being sold at Rs55-60 per kg, okra price further went down from Rs400 to Rs300 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs75 per kg against Rs90 per kg, price of ridge gourd (tori) further went down from Rs320 to Rs300 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs65 per kg. Turnip was available at Rs100 per 5kg, which in retail market was being sold at Rs25 per kg, Maroo kadu price went down from Rs150 per 5kg to Rs130 per 5kg which in retail being sold at Rs40 per kg against Rs45 per kg, cauliflower price remained stable at Rs150 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs35 per kg and cabbage price also witnessed no change which was available at Rs120 per 5kg while in retail market it was being sold at Rs25 per kg.

Brinjal price remained stable at Rs150 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs45-40 per kg, cucumber price went up from Rs70 per 5kg to Rs150 per 5kg which in retail was being sold at Rs40 per kg against Rs20-25 per kg.

Fruit prices also witnessed mixed trend as good quality local banana price reduced from Rs125 per dozen to Rs90 per dozen and normal quality from Rs70-90 per dozen to Rs60-70 per dozen while Indian banana per kg went up from Rs200 per dozen to Rs220 per dozen. Good quality guava was available at Rs90 per kg and its normal quality was being sold in the range of Rs60-70 per kg. Various qualities of oranges were available in the range Rs120-300 per dozen against Rs100-290 per dozen with normal Kino being sold at Rs120 per dozen and red blood at Rs300 per dozen.

Best quality strawberry was being sold at Rs150-175 per kg and normal strawberry was available at Rs100 per kg, while Chinese pear price went up from Rs200 per kg to Rs225 per kg. Normal quality white apple was being sold at Rs100 per kg against Rs80 per kg, Pakistani Kala Kalu apple at Rs160 per kg against Rs170 per kg, Iranian Kala Kalu apple at Rs180 per kg, golden apple at Rs120 per kg against Rs150 per kg, Ambari apple at Rs100 per kg against Rs120 per kg, while Chinese and other imported apples were being sold in the range of Rs200-250 per kg.

New arrival melon was being sold at Rs350 per 10kg in wholesale market, which in retail market was being sold at Rs50 per kg. New arrival water melon was being sold at Rs600 per 40kg in wholesales market which in retail was being sold at Rs50 per kg.