ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: Tea maker Lipton Yellow Pakistan is all set to increase tea price by Rs 50-60 per kilogram within next few weeks, traders in the wholesales market said on Saturday.

Traders at Gang Mandi Rawalpindi during a survey told Business Recorder that the Lipton Yellow Pakistan has intimated that within next few weeks the company will increase the commodity price by Rs 50-60 per kg. Lipton Yellow Label per kg pack is being sold at Rs 640 which is likely to touch Rs 700 if the company increases the price, the traders added.

The survey observed a significant reduction in the all range of pulses in the wholesale market as price of dal mash reduced to Rs 18,000 from Rs 22,000 per quintal, Dal moong from Rs 12,000 to Rs 11,000 per quintal, lobia from Rs 10,000 to Rs 9,000 per quintal, Masoor from Rs 13,000 to Rs 11,800 per quintal, channa from Rs 13,000 to Rs 11,500 per quintal and Kabuli channa from Rs 14,000 to Rs 13,000 per quintal.

However, the survey noted that the retailers have not passed on the benefit in price reduction of pulses to the end consumers as moong is being sold at Rs 140 per kg, lobia at Rs 120 per kg, Maash at Rs 220 per kg, Masoor at Rs 145 per kg, dal channa at Rs 150 per kg and Kabuli channa at Rs 170 per kg.

No change in the prices of other essential kitchen items, including rice, spices, milk, ghee/cooking oil, salt, sugar, wheat flour, egg, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and others was witnessed.

Good quality ghee/cooking oil brands like Dalda 5-kg tin is being sold at Rs 850, eggs with no change in the wholesale market are being sold at Rs 100 per dozen, which in the retail market are being sold at Rs 110 per dozen. The price of live chicken went up by Rs 400 per 40kg from Rs 4,200 to Rs 4,600 per 40kg in the wholesale market, which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 130 against Rs 120 per kg. Chicken meat is being sold at Rs 200 against Rs 190 per kg.

The price of sugar didn’t witness any change and is being sold at Rs 3,700 per 50kg bag in the wholesale market, which is being sold at Rs 77 per kg in the retail market. The price of wheat flour registered no change and it is being sold at Rs 760 per 20kg bag in the retail market.

The LPG is being sold at Rs 115 per kg and a domestic LPG cylinder weighing 15 kg is being sold at Rs 1,550 per cylinder.

The price of tomatoes in the wholesale market came down by Rs 30 per 5kg from Rs 300 to Rs 270 per 5kg, which are being sold at Rs 65 against Rs 70 per kg in the retail market. Best quality potatoes price remained stable at Rs 180 per 5kg, while normal quality of potatoes are being sold at Rs 150 per 5kg. Potatoes in the retail market are being sold at Rs 40/45 per kg. Onions price witnessed no change and it is being sold at Rs 150 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which is being sold at Rs 40 per kg in retail market.

Ginger price was found stable in the wholesale market at Rs 400 per 5kg, which is being sold at Rs 100 per kg in the retail market, garlic price Rs 1,200 per 5kg and it is being sold at Rs 280 per kg in the retail market, lemon at Rs 400 per 5kg, which is being sold at Rs 100 per kg in the retail market.

Brinjal is being sold at Rs 150 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while it is being sold at Rs 40 per kg in the retail market, carrot at Rs 250 per 5kg, which is being sold at 70 per kg in the retail market, cucumber at Rs 150 per 5kg, which is being sold at Rs 40 per kg in the retail market.

Reddish is being sold at Rs 80 per 8kg bundle in the wholesale market, while it is being sold at Rs 20-25 per kg in the retail market. Spinach is being sold at Rs 80 per 8kg bundle in the wholesale market, while it is being sold at Rs 20 per kg in the retail market.

During the week under review, price of peas went up by Rs 50 per 5kg from Rs 600 to Rs 650 per 5kg, which are being sold at Rs 145 against Rs 140 per kg in the retail market.

The price of kadu witnessed no change and it is being sold at Rs 150 per kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs 35/40 per kg. Karaila is being sold at Rs 400 per 5kg, which is being sold at Rs 100 per kg in the retail market.

The price of Arvi was found stable at Rs 250 per 5kg, which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 60 per kg.

Cauliflower and cabbage prices witnessed a further reduction of Rs 20 per 5kg from Rs 100 to Rs 80 per 5kg in wholesales market, which in the retail market are being sold at Rs 25 against Rs 30 per kg. Capsicum price remained stable at Rs 450 per 5kg, which is being sold at Rs 100 per kg and okra at Rs 350 per 5kg in the wholesale market which is being sold at Rs 80 per kg in the retail market, torri at Rs 300 per 5kg, which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 70 per kg.

Prices of most of the fruits witnessed a mixed trend as good quality local banana is being sold at Rs 80 per dozen, and normal quality at Rs 50 per dozen, pomegranates in the range of Rs 100 to R200 per kg, guava at Rs 50/70 per kg, apples in the range of Rs 70 to Rs 250 per kg and good quality grapes are being sold at Rs 180 per kg.