AMJAD ALI SHAH

PESHAWAR: The retail prices of all essential kitchen items including pulses, vegetables, rice, wheat flour, fruits, sugar, chilies, milk, spices, chicken and meat are almost firm in the open market despite twice reduction in prices of petroleum products and easing lockdown in provincial capital.

Live chicken/meat is being sold at Rs186 per kg. A manifold increase in price of beef is noticed as being available at Rs500-550 per kilogram against the official fixed price in local market. Mutton is being sold at Rs1000-1050 per kg. A dozen of farm eggs are being sold at Rs110 and Rs120, according to survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Sunday.

A 20-kg flour sac is being sold at Rs950 and 1000, Rs 1050 and Rs1100 while in retail market flour is being sold at Rs65 per kg. Maida is being sold at Rs65 per kilogram.

Fruits which is staple food, also completely reached out from purchasing power of common man as a substantial increase was witnessed in prices of almost all fruits. It was noticed that banana is being sold at Rs100 and 120-150 per dozen which was selling at Rs60-70 per dozen. Apple was available at Rs200 and 300 per kg, orange Rs200 per kg, strawberry at Rs150 and Rs200 per kg, guava Rs150-200 per kg, water melon at Rs100-150 per piece, melon was available at Rs100 per kg against the price of Rs60 per kg a few days back.

According to the survey, prices of pulses were remained high side in retail as no change or decrease was witnessed in previous week as compared to price of preceding week. Good quality rice (sela) was available at Rs170 per kg. Dal mash is being sold at Rs280 per kg, dal masoor at Rs160 per kg, white lobiya at Rs180 per kg, it was learned.

Similarly, the survey further noticed big-size white chana was available at Rs160 per kg whereas small-size white chana is being sold at Rs100 per kg. Dal chana is being sold at Rs180 per kg.

Likewise, red bean is being sold at Rs240-220 per kg, dhoti dal at Rs260 per kg, Dal chilka (black) at Rs260 per kg, dal chilka (green) at Rs220 per kg. Malka masoor was available at Rs160 per kg, Moong is being sold at Rs200 per kg.

Prices of vegetable, especially those which were using in kitchen on daily basis, like garlic, ginger, onion, tomato etc also remained unchanged. The survey noticed that garlic is being available at Rs350 per kg, ginger is available at Rs450 per kg. Onion is being sold at Rs40-50 per kg against the price of Rs70 per kg in the previous week.

However, the price of tomato is remained stable in market which is being available at Rs30-40 per kg. Green chili is being sold at Rs150 per kg Lemon was available at Rs300-400 per kg. Cucumber priced at Rs40-50 per kg against rate of Rs30 per kg in the previous week.

According to the survey, Arvi is being sold at Rs150 per kg, which was selling at Rs120 per kg in the previous week. Capsicum priced at Rs120 per kg, while peas was available at Rs120-Rs130 per kg against the price of Rs80 per kg in the previous week. Ladyfinger is being sold at Rs120-130 per kg.

Cabbage is being sold at Rs70 per kg against the prices of Rs50 per kg in the previous week while cauliflower was available at Rs50 per kg. Apple, long and round gourds are being sold within range of Rs70-80 and Rs90 per kg. Bringle was available at Rs60 per kg. Turnip is being sold at Rs40-50 per kg.