ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

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

The survey observed further reduction in prices of onion and potato while tomato price remained unchanged. Potato price reduced from Rs100 per 5kg to Rs80 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs25 against Rs30 per kg, onion price came down from Rs100 per 5kg to Rs90 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs25-30 per kg against Rs35 per kg while tomato price witnessed no change which was available at Rs100 per 5kg while in retail market it was being sold at Rs30.

Garlic prices remained stable as local garlic was available at Rs230 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs65 per kg, while price of Quetta garlic also reduced from Rs370 per 5kg to Rs240 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs70 per kg against Rs90 per kg. Ginger price went down from Rs700 per 5kg to Rs650 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs160 per kg against Rs180 per kg. Lemon price reduced from Rs1,200 per 5kg to Rs800 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs150 per kg against Rs280 per kg.

Capsicum price remained stable at Rs180 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs55-60 per kg; peas price went down from Rs600 per 5kg to Rs450 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs120 per kg against Rs150 per kg; taro (arvi) price remained stable at Rs250 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs60; carrot price went up from Rs150 per 5kg to Rs230 per 5kg while in retail market it was being sold at Rs60 per kg against Rs40 per kg.

Bean price went up from Rs300 per 5kg to Rs350 per 5kg while in retail market it was being sold at Rs90 per kg against Rs80 per kg, okra price further went down from Rs150 per 5kg to Rs130 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs40 per kg against Rs50 per kg, price of ridge gourd (tori) went down from Rs200 per 5kg to Rs180 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs45 per kg against Rs55 per kg. Turnip price remained stable at Rs150 per 5kg, which in retail market was still being sold at Rs40 per kg, Maroo kadu price went down from Rs180 per 5kg to Rs120 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs30 per kg against Rs50-55 per kg, cauliflower price went up from Rs150 per 5kg to Rs180 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs50 per kg against Rs35 per kg and cabbage price remained stable at Rs150 per 5kg while in retail market it was being sold at Rs40 per kg.

Brinjal price went down from Rs180 per 5kg to Rs120 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs30-35 per kg against Rs45 per kg, cucumber price remained stable at Rs260 per 5kg which in retail was being sold at Rs70 per kg.

No significant changes were observed in the prices of all the nonperishable items especially pulses, cooking oil, spices and other kitchen specific items, 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.

Live chicken price in wholesale market remained stable at Rs5,500 per 40kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs160 per kg, and chicken meat was being sold at Rs280 per kg. The eggs prices in wholesale market remained stable at Rs84 per dozen which in retail market were being sold at Rs92-95 per dozen. Beef was being sold at Rs500 per kg and mutton at Rs950 per kg.

Fruit prices witnessed a reduction as good quality local banana was available at Rs150 per dozen against Rs170 per dozen, normal quality banana was available in the range of Rs100-120 per dozen while Indian banana price went down from Rs230 per dozen to Rs200 per dozen. No change was observed in guava price as good quality guava was available at Rs90 per kg and its normal quality was being sold in the range of Rs60-70 per kg.

Cherry price went down from Rs350per kg to Rs250 per kg and price of Chinese pear from Rs220 per kg to Rs200 per kg. Normal quality white apple price reduced from Rs120 per kg to Rs100 per kg, both Pakistani and Iranian Kala Kalu apples were being sold at Rs170 per kg, golden apple at Rs110 per kg against Rs120 per kg and Ambari apple was available at Rs90 per kg. Chinese and other imported apples were still being sold in the range of Rs300-320 per kg. Melon was being sold at Rs40 per kg, watermelon at Rs20-25 per kg, white melon at Rs40 per kg, loquat at Rs90 per kg and various qualities of peach at RsRs80-130 per kg. Mangoes were being sold in the range of Rs100-150 per kg, plump at Rs180 per kg, papaya at Rs170 per kg, good quality Pakistani dates were available at Rs130 per kg and Iranian dates were being sold at Rs180 per kg.