ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items, especially vegetables, witnessed an increase during this week past as compared to preceding week, revealed a survey conducted by Business Recorder, here on Saturday.

The survey observed that during the week under review, prices of most of the vegetables and fruits went up while prices of ghee/cooking oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as other nonperishable items remained stable.

Prices of all the major pulses remained stable as white lentil (maash) was being sold at Rs 100 per kg, good quality grams at Rs 120 per kg, kidney bean (lobia) in the range Rs 80-100 per kg, green gram (moong) at Rs 80 per kg and red lentil (masoor) was being sold at Rs 100 per kg.

Sugar price remained stable at Rs 2,620 per 50kg bag which was being sold at Rs 58 per kg in the retail market. Price of a pack of milk remained stable at Rs 1,550 per carton and tea price also witnessed no change.

The traders told this correspondent that prices of all the packed milk brands are likely to go up as price of Nestle Milk Pack has already been increased.

Onions price went up from Rs 130 to Rs 150 per 5kg in the wholesale market which were being sold at Rs 40 per kg in the retail market. Best quality potatoes price went down from Rs 170 to Rs 140 per 5kg, which were being sold at Rs 35 against Rs 45 per kg in retail market. Sweet potatoes price remained stable at Rs 100 per kg which were being sold at Rs 25 per kg in the retail market. Tomatoes price went up from Rs 180 to Rs 220 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 55 against Rs 45-50 per kg in the retail market.

Prices of various qualities of garlic went up from Rs 300-350 to Rs 350-400 per 5kg, which were being sold at Rs 75-100 against Rs 70-90 per kg in the retail market. Ginger price further went up from Rs 750 to Rs 800 per 5kg, which was being sold at Rs 180-200 per kg against Rs170-180 per kg in the retail market. Lemon price went up from Rs 300 to Rs 500 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 140 against Rs 80 per kg in the retail market.

Live chicken price remained stable at Rs 3,800 per 40 kg which was being sold at Rs 110-120 per kg in retail market and chicken meat was being sold at Rs 170 per kg. The eggs prices remained stable in the wholesale and retail markets at Rs 85 per dozen and Rs 95 per dozen respectively.

Capsicum price went up from Rs 300 to Rs 400 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 90-100 per kg against Rs 80 per kg in the retail market; taro (arvi) price further went up from Rs 120 to Rs 150 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 40-45 against Rs 35-40 per kg in the retail market; Chinese carrot prices went further up from Rs 220 to Rs 250 per 5kg while it was being sold at Rs 60 against Rs 55 per kg in the retail market.

Bean price further went up from Rs 200 to Rs 250 per 5kg while it was being sold at Rs 60-65 against Rs50-55 per kg in the retail market, okra price further went up from Rs 180 to Rs 220 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 50-55 against Rs 45-50 per kg in the retail market, and price of ridge gourd (tori) remained stable at Rs 200 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 50-55 per kg in retail market.

Turnip price went up from Rs 100 to Rs 120 per 5kg, which was being sold at Rs 35 per kg against Rs 30 per kg in the retail market, Maroo kaddu price went up from Rs 180 to Rs 300 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 70-80 against Rs 45 per kg in retail market, while loki kaddu was being sold at Rs 200 against Rs 150 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 50 against Rs 40 per kg in retail market.

Various forms of tinda were available at Rs 160-200 per 5kg, while in retail market it was being sold at Rs 40-50 per kg. Cauliflower price remained stable at Rs 300 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 75 per kg and cabbage price remained stable at Rs 175 per 5kg which in retail market being sold at Rs 50 per kg.

Brinjal price went up from Rs 90 per 5kg to Rs 100 per 5kg in wholesales market which in retail market was being sold at Rs 30 per kg against Rs 25 per kg, peas price went up from Rs 400 per 5kg to Rs 500 per 5kg which in retail marker was being sold at Rs 140-145 per kg against Rs 100-110 per kg, and cucumber price went up from Rs 150 per 5kg to Rs 120 per 5 kg, which in retail market was being sold at Rs 50-55 per kg against Rs 45 per kg. Karela (bitter gourd) price remained stable at Rs 270 per 5kg which in retail was being sold at Rs 75 per kg.

Overall fruit prices witnessed a decline as Gaja apple was available at Rs 55-65 per kg against Rs 60-75 per kg, local good quality banana at Rs 60 per dozen against Rs 75 per dozen, and normal quality banana was available in the range of Rs 40-50 per dozen against Rs 45-60 per dozen. Good quality guava was being sold at Rs 55 per kg and its normal quality was available in the range of Rs 40-45 per kg.

Best quality mangoes were being sold in the range of Rs 100-120 per kg, while normal quality mangoes were available in the range of Rs 70-90 per kg. Chinese and other imported apples were being sold in the range of Rs 200-275 per kg against Rs 250-300 per kg. Various qualities of peaches were available in the range of Rs 60-70 per kg and various qualities of grapes were being sold in the range of Rs 80-160 per kg against Rs 100-200 per kg.

Sweet orange was being sold at Rs 120 per dozen, Chinese pear at Rs 140-180 per kg and Pakistani pear at Rs 65 per kg against Rs 75 per kg, while new arrival Kandhari pomegranate were being sold at Rs 200 per kg.