AMJAD ALI SHAH

PESHAWAR: A downward trend in prices of important kitchen items, except chicken meat, flour, pulses was witnessed in the retail market, it was revealed in a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Sunday.

Price of live chicken has increased at Rs221 per kg which was selling at Rs218 per kg in the previous week, the survey witnessed, added that a dozen of farm eggs are being sold at Rs150 against the price of Rs160-170 per dozen in the last week.

It was noticed that the price of sugar has decreased at Rs95 per kg which was selling at Rs100 per kg in the previous week. Similarly, gram flour (baisen) was available at Rs100-120 and Rs130 per kg.

Likewise, according to the survey, Rs10-15 per kg/litre ghee/cooking oil prices decreased in the local market.

No change was witnessed in cow meat, as it is being sold at Rs500 per kg against the Rs350 price fixed by district administration. Similarly, mutton beef was being sold at multiple rates within range of Rs1100-1200 and Rs1300 per kg in the local market.

Prices of fresh milk also goes unchecked in the local market as milk sellers were charged consumers with artificial rates and openly defying the official fixed rates. For instance, fresh milk was available at Rs120-130 per litre against the official fixed price of Rs90-100 per litre, while yogurt is being sold at Rs100-120 per kg.

It witnessed a downward trend in prices of vegetables in the local market in the previous week as compared to the preceding week. Ginger is being sold at Rs300 per kg against the price of Rs350 per kg in the last week. Similarly, garlic was available at Rs200 per kilogarmme against the price of Rs250 per kg in the previous week.

Likewise, a one-kg tomato is being sold at Rs40 per kg which was selling at Rs60 per kg in the previous week. It added that onion was available at Rs40 per kg against the rate of Rs50 per kg in the last week. Green chili is being sold at Rs120 per kg against the price of Rs180 per kg in the previous week, whereas lemon was available at Rs120 per kg.

Potatoes are being sold at Rs40 per kg against the price of Rs60 per kg in the last week, it was noticed, adding that tinda was available at Rs40 per kg, kado at Rs60 per kg, peas at Rs40-50 per kg, arvi at Rs80 per kg against Rs100 per kg in the previous week.

Similarly, a one-kg cauliflower was available at Rs40 per kg against the price of Rs60 per kg, while cabbage was being sold at R50 per kg against the price of Rs70 per kg in the previous week. Bringle is being sold at Rs50 per kg, turnip at Rs40 per kg.

A bundle of radish was available at Rs30, while spinach bundle was available at Rs25. Bitter gourd (karela) was available at Rs120-150 per kg, French bean was being sold at Rs150 per kg.

In the local market, according to the survey, the price of red flour and fine flour also decreased Rs800-900 from Rs1000-1100 per 20-kg bag.

Fruits being a staple food, which is also completely out of purchasing power of common, as prices are sky-high in the local market. Pomegranate is being sold at Rs200-250, Kabul-origin apple is being sold at Rs220 per kg, while locally swat produced apple was available at Rs100-120 per kg, guava is being sold at Rs150 per kg, bananas are being sold at Rs50-60 and R70-80 per dozen, fruiter was available at Rs80 per dozen, orange at Rs120 per dozen.

It was witnessed that prices of pulses/food grains remained high-side. Good quality rice (sela) was being sold at Rs150-160 per kg, while other qualities were being available within range of Rs120-130 and Rs140 per kg, while toota rice was being sold at Rs70-80 per kg.

Likewise, red bean is being sold within range of Rs180 and Rs200-220 per kg, white lobiya at Rs200 per kg, big-size white channa available at Rs140 per kg while small size at Rs120 per kg, mash dal was being sold at Rs260 per kg, dhoti dal at Rs220 per kg, dal masoor at Rs160 per kg.