AMJAD ALI SHAH

PESHAWAR: Food inflation reached at peak level as prices of essential commodities registered manifold increase over the past few months.

A sharp rise in prices of almost all food grains and other daily use items was noticed in both wholesale and retail markets. Rates of pulses, sugar, rice and ghee/cooking oil increased from 70 to 80 percent over the past two to three months, according to survey conducted by Business Recorder.

A 49kg bag of sugar is being sold at Rs 2940, as compared to previous rate of Rs 2290, with an increase of Rs 350 per bag. Similarly, prices of high quality rice weighting 49Kg also soared from Rs 5,600 to Rs 7,100 with an increase of Rs 1200 per bag.

In the wholesale market, a 49Kg bag of broken rice is being sold at Rs 1650 and Rs 1700. Dal Masoor, weighting 49Kg bag is being available at Rs 4,800, and Rs 4,900.

Expert says according to data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics the inflation rate in Pakistan was recorded at 9.08 percent in October 2013.

16kg ghee tin is being available at Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,580, while 10kg cooking oil is being sold at Rs 1850 and Rs 1960.

Due to higher food prices, the Pakistan inflation rate reached to 9.08 percent in October from 7.39 percent in September, the fastest growth in 15 months.

Similarly, the prices of wheat flour also shoot up in the wholesale and retail markets, as a 20Kg flour bag is being sold at Rs 850 and 870 as compared to Rs 720.

A 85kg flour bag is also being sold at Rs 4,000 with an increase of Rs 150 per bag, while 40Kg bag is being available at Rs 1,660 against the previous rate of Rs 1,580.

During the survey it was also noted that the prices of vegetables also registered a substantial increase during the last week as compared to the preceding week. Tomato is being sold at Rs 120 per kilogram against Rs 40, while onion prices also surged to Rs 70 and Rs 80 per Kg, as compared to last week price which was Rs 40 per kg. Ginger is being available at Rs 240 per kg, while garlic is being sold at Rs 120 and Rs 160 per kg and lemon at Rs 160 per kg.

Chicken meat is being sold at Rs 250 per kg against the official rate of Rs 140 per kg, while live chicken is being sold at Rs 280 to Rs 300 to 320.