ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: Prices of entire range of essential kitchen items kept on increasing during this week past as compared to previous week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday.

The survey observed that onions price went up from Rs 300 to Rs 350 per 5 kg which were being sold at Rs 80-85 against Rs 65-75 per kg in retail market, tomatoes price went up from Rs 180 to Rs 200 per 5 kg which were being sold at Rs 50 against Rs 45 per kg and potatoes’ price remained stable at Rs 150 per 5 kg which were being sold at Rs 35-40 per kg in retail market.

While talking to Business Recorder at wholesale market and retail shops in various areas of Islamabad, the people said that no vegetable in the market other than potato and tomato is available below Rs 50 per kg. They said that turnips, which normally are being sold at Rs 75 per 5 kg, are now available at Rs 325 per 5 kg which in retail market are being sold at Rs 80 per kg.

Moreover, it has always been observed that there is no check on prices as retailers are charging their own prices without following the government’s price list, saying the district market committees are not setting proper prices and either government set prices are higher or lower.

Garlic price went up from Rs 1,050 to Rs 1,075 per 5 kg which was being sold at Rs 270-290 per kg against Rs 260-280 per kg and ginger price went up from Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,650 per 5 kg which was being sold at Rs 400 against Rs 275-390 per kg. Lemon price went down from Rs 500 to Rs 400 per 5 kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 100 against Rs 140 per kg. Maroo kaddu price went up from Rs 175 to Rs 280 per 5 kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 80 against Rs 45-50 per kg, radish price went up from Rs 140 to Rs 150 per 5 kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 35-40 against Rs 35 per kg, Chinese carrot price went up from Rs 200 to Rs 275 per 5 kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 70 against Rs 55-60 per kg, and yam price went up from Rs 375 to Rs 400 per 5 kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 100 against Rs 90 per kg.

Beans price went up from Rs 400 to Rs 450 per 5 kg which in the retail market were being sold at Rs 110 against Rs 90-95 per kg, tinda price went up from Rs 275 to Rs 450 per 5 kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 120 against Rs 75 per kg; and brinjal price went up from Rs 130 to Rs 300 per 5 kg which was being sold at Rs 75 against Rs 30-35 per kg. Turnip price went further up from Rs 250 to Rs 350 per 5 kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 80-85 against Rs 70 per kg.

Capsicum price went up from Rs 425 to Rs 450 per 5 kg which was being sold at Rs 100-110 against Rs 90-100 per kg; cucumber price went further up from Rs 220 to Rs 250 per 5 kg which was being sold at Rs 65-70 against Rs 55 per kg; cauliflower price went down from Rs 300 to Rs 250 per 5 kg which was being sold at Rs 65-70 against Rs 75 per kg; cabbage price went further up from Rs 150 to Rs 180 per 5 kg which was being sold at Rs 55-60 against Rs 40-45 per kg, and green zucchini (tori) price went up from Rs 250 to Rs 300 per 5 kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 80 against Rs 65 per kg.

Prices of various qualities of pumpkin went up from Rs 200-250 to Rs 250-350 per 5 kg which were being sold in the range of Rs 65-90 against Rs 55-65 per kg; okra price went further up from Rs 270 to Rs 325 per 5 kg which was being sold at Rs 75-80 against Rs 65 per kg; and kareela price went further up from Rs 330 to Rs 400 per 5 kg which was being sold at Rs 110-120 against Rs 80-75 per kg.

Egg price went up from Rs 95 to Rs 98 per dozen which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 100-110 per dozen, chicken price remained stable at 6,500 per 40 kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 210 per kg while chicken meat was being sold at Rs 320 per kg.

During the week under review, no significance changes were witnessed in prices of milk, sugar, iodized salt, spices, rice, pulses, ghee, cooking oil, bread, wheat flour and other edibles.

Fruit prices also witnessed a mixed trend as Gaja apple was available at Rs 125 against Rs 110 per kg, golden apple at Rs 100 against Rs 90 per kg and Ambri apple at Rs 80 against Rs 90 per kg. Good quality local banana was being sold at Rs 70 per dozen while normal quality banana was being sold in the range of Rs 45-55 per dozen, and guava was available at Rs 60 against Rs 70 per kg.

Various brands of mangoes were being sold in the range of Rs 75 to Rs 150 per kg and various qualities of peaches were available in the range of Rs 90-150 per kg. Pear was being sold at Rs 90 per kg, grapes were being sold in the range of Rs 100-225 per kg, and fresh arrival sweet orange were available at Rs 120-175 per dozen against Rs 100-150 per dozen.