ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed a mixed trend during this week past as compared with the previous week, revealed a survey conducted by Business Recorder, here on Saturday.

The survey revealed chicken price witnessed a further decline from to Rs 8,400 per 40kg to Rs 8,000 following rumors of coronavirus and reduced demand, while in retail market chicken is being sold at Rs 225 per kg against Rs 235 kg and chicken meat is being sold at Rs 340 per kg against Rs 360 per kg, which two weeks ago has reached to Rs 500 per kg.

The survey noted an increase in eggs price which jumped from Rs 4,200 per carton to Rs 4,350 per carton in wholesale market, while in retail market, eggs are being sold at Rs 160 per dozen against Rs 150-155 per dozen.

Usually in summer season, eggs price remains hovering in the range of Rs 70-90 per dozen but since past summer, the eggs prices have witnessed a continued increasing trend, which during ongoing season remained above Rs 150 per dozen.

No changes were witnessed in ghee/cooking oil prices as best quality ghee/cooking oil is available at Rs 1,620 per carton, and B-grade ghee/cooking at Rs 3,800 per 16 pack carton.

Since December 2020, best quality ghee/cooking oil price has witnessed an increase of Rs 110 per kg from Rs 250 per kg Rs 360 per kg, while B-grade ghee/cooking oil price increased by Rs 90 per pack of 900 grams from Rs 160 to Rs 250 per pack.

Traders told this correspondent that the government-sponsored subsidised wheat flour is not being supplied in the open market and wheat flour is available at open market rates, which is being sold at Rs 1,180 per 20kg against Rs 860 per 20kg.

The survey observed no changes in sugar price, which is available at Rs 4,750 per 40kg, while in retail market it is being sold at Rs 105 per kg.

No changes were observed in packed milk prices such as Milk Pak and Olper’s which is available at Rs 42.5 per pack and litre pack at Rs 160 per pack.

Fresh milk and yogurt prices also remained unchanged at Rs 140 per kg and Rs 150 per kg respectively.

Prices of the various brands of rice remained unchanged as best quality rice is available at Rs 5,300 per 50kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs 160 per kg, while normal quality rice brands are being sold at Rs 80 per kg to Rs 120 per kg.

Pulses prices witnessed no changes as moong in wholesale is available at Rs 8,000 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 220 per kg, maash at Rs 8,500 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 230 per kg, best quality lentil at Rs 5,000 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 140 per kg.

Best quality bean lentil at Rs 8,000 per bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs 200 per kg, masoor at Rs 5,000 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 140 per kg, while best quality whole gram at Rs 5,000 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 130 per kg.

A comparison of the prevailing market prices with the prices computed by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) revealed serious differences as the PBS has mentioned sugar price at Rs 98.57 per kg, while in market on average, sugar is available at Rs 105 per kg. Similarly, the PBS mentioned Dalda ghee/cooking oil price at Rs 1,540 per 5kg tin, while in the market it is being sold at Rs 1,560 per 5kg tin.

The PBS has mentioned wheat flour price of Rs 1,136.15 per 20kg bag but in the market, it is available at Rs 1,180 per 20kg bag.

Fresh milk price at Rs 109.48 per kg, while in the market, it is being sold at Rs 140 per kg, cooked daal plate at an average hotel is available at Rs 95 per plate against the PBS mentioned price of Rs 79.08 per plate, mutton in rural areas of Rawalpindi/Islamabad is available at Rs 1,200 per kg, while the PBS has mentioned it at Rs 1,090.69 per kg, while in urban areas of the twin cities mutton is being sold at Rs 1,360 per kg.

The survey noted an increasing trend in the prices of vegetables as potato price went up from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 220 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs 55 per kg against Rs 50 per kg, tomatoes price remained stable at Rs 130 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail are being sold at Rs 35 per kg, onion price also remained unchanged at Rs 120 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs 30-35 per kg.

Ginger price went up from Rs 1,500 per 5kg to Rs 1,750 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 400 per kg against Rs 350 per kg, and local garlic price went up from Rs 600 per 5kg to Rs 650 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 160 per kg against Rs 150 per kg.

Pumpkin price went up from Rs 220 per 5kg to Rs 240 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at 60 per kg, okra price remained unchanged at Rs 375 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 90 per kg, capsicum price also witnessed no change and is being sold at Rs 350 per 5kg, which in retail is available at Rs 80 per kg, fresh bean price went up from Rs 550 per 5kg to Rs 600 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 150 per kg against Rs 140 per kg, peas price went down from Rs 750 per 5kg to Rs 600 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 150 per kg against Rs 200 per kg, cauliflower price remained stable at Rs 400 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs95 per kg, and cabbage price went up from Rs 120 per 5kg to Rs 150 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 40 per kg against Rs 30 per kg.

Fruit prices witnessed a mixed trend as best quality banana is available at Rs 150 per dozen against Rs 200 per dozen, while normal quality in the range of Rs 100-120 per dozen against Rs 130-145 per dozen, watermelon is available in the range of Rs 25-35 per kg against Rs 20-25 per kg, various brands of apple are available in the range of Rs 120-275 per kg against Rs 100-250 per kg, melon price went up from Rs 45 per kg to Rs 50 per kg, and new arrival cherry is being sold at Rs 250 per kg against Rs 300 per kg.

Various brands of peach are available in the range of Rs 100 per kg to Rs 225 per kg and various qualities of mangoes in the range of Rs 90-150 per kg, while plum is available at Rs 400 per kg against Rs 350 per kg.