AMJAD ALI SHAH

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

The survey observed that prices of most of the vegetables as well as of chicken, eggs, non-perishable items, including wheat flour, rice, spices and others remained stable during this week.

However, vendors in the provincial capital have anticipated that prices may further increase in coming days due to the recent surge in petroleum products.

While, the consumers have continuously complained that there was no check on prices by the authorities concerned, because of which retailers are squeezing them.

A one-kilogram sela rice is available at Rs 145 however a marginal increase was witnessed in price of tota rice, which is available at Rs 80 per kg against the price of Rs70 in last week. Dal channa priced at Rs110 per kilogram and dal mash at Rs120 per kg.

Similarly, dal masoor is being sold at Rs80 per kilogram, which was selling at Rs90 per kg in retail market, showing an increase of Rs10 per kg, while the green dal priced at Rs130 per kilogram, and dhoti dal available at Rs90 per kg.

The retail price of big-size white channa is being available at Rs180 per kilogram, while small-size white channa priced at Rs120. Red bean is available in different rates in retail market as being sold at Rs 170, Rs140 and Rs120 per kg.

Likewise, price of gram flour (baisen) was declined in retail market as being sold at Rs120 per kg, while price of black dal chilka was remained stable as available at Rs140 per kg.

The survey witnessed prices of all brand and quality of cooking oil/ghee were remained unchanged as available within range of Rs120, Rs160, Rs170 and Rs180 in retail market. Moong is available at Rs120 per kg.

The retail price of sugar has gone up to Rs52 per kilogram, which was selling at Rs50, showing an increase of Rs2 per kg, the survey said.

Price of one-kilogram ginger has decreased to Rs160 per kilogram, which was selling at Rs200 per kg, while garlic priced at Rs200 per kg against the Rs160 per kg in the previous week.

A slight fall in retail price of tomato is witnessed as available at Rs20 per kg, which was selling at Rs30 per kg in preceding week. Big-size onion priced at Rs40 per kilogram while small-size available at Rs30-25 per kilogram in retail market.

Red-colour potato is being available at Rs40 per kilogram, while white-colour priced at Rs30 per kg in retail market. Capsicum is being sold at Rs80 per kg, peas at Rs50 per kilogram, arvi at Rs40 per kg, lady finger at Rs120 per kg, calabash at Rs50 per kg, cauliflower at Rs30 per kg, cabbage at Rs50 per kg. Cucumber is being sold at Rs40 per kg in retail market.

During the visit in local market, it was noticed that butchers are defying the official rates, and selling cow meat at exorbitant rate in retail market, according to which cow beef is being available at Rs 300, Rs 320 and Rs 340 per kilogram. Mutton is being sold at Rs 700 and Rs 750 per kilogram in retail market.

Fruits are staple food, which is also reaching out purchasing power of the common man, as prices have registered ‘sky-high’ in retail market.

According to survey, apple is being sold at Rs200 and Rs150 per kg, big-size Orange at Rs90 per dozen, while small-size orange at Rs60 and Rs40 per dozen, big-size kinnow available at Rs90 per dozen, small-size being sold at Rs50-40 per dozen, guava at Rs80 per kg, banana at Rs50 and Rs 80 per dozen.

The survey noticed that one litre of fresh milk is being sold at Rs 100 and Rs 120 against the official fixed rate of Rs 80 per litre. Yogurt is being available at Rs 100 and Rs 110 per kg. Good quality black tea is being available at Rs 350 per kg and Rs 400 per kg, green tea at Rs 250 per kg, a one kilogram pack of milk powder at Rs 700 in retail market.