AMJAD ALI SHAH

PESHAWAR: A mixed trend in prices of important kitchen items was witnessed in the retail market, according to a survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Sunday.

According to the survey, prices of vegetable, live chicken/meat, except flour, sugar, cooking oil/ghee and fruits decreased slightly in the local market. It was noticed a downward trend in prices of vegetables in the local market. A five-kg tomato is being sold at Rs100/-, which was earlier sold at Rs200/- in the local market.

Similarly, a five-kg onion was available at Rs150/- per kg, which was being sold at Rs200-250/- per kg. However, the price of ginger remained unchanged as being sold at Rs400 per kg, whereas garlic was being available at Rs150-200 per kg. Green chili was available at Rs200 per kg, lemon at Rs100 per kg, cucumber at Rs50 per kg, carrots at Rs60 per kg.

According to the survey, the peas was available at sky-high rate in local market as being sold at Rs250 per kg, bitter gourd (Karela) at Rs150 per kg, arvi at Rs120 per kg, lady finger at Rs100 per kg, cauliflower at Rs80 per kg, cabbage at Rs60 per kg, kado at Rs70 per kg, tori at Rs80 per kg, red-colored potato at Rs50-60 per kg, white-colored potato at Rs40 per kg, bringle at Rs50 per kg.

Prices of live chicken/meat witnessed a downward trend during the last one-week, it was noticed. A one-kg live chicken is being sold at Rs221 per kg against the price Rs251 per kg in the previous week, it added. However, according to the survey, the cow beef was being sold at an exorbitant rate in the retail market as being sold at Rs 500-550/- and Rs600/- per kg against the official fixed price. Similarly, it added the mutton beef which remained high-side, which was available at Rs 1300-1400/- per kg in the local market.

According to the survey, the sugar price remained high-side in the local market as being sold at Rs 100-105/- per kg.

Likewise, prices of fresh milk and yogurts remained unchanged in the local market, as being sold at Rs100-120/- and Rs140/- per kg/litre against the official fixed prices.

As per increase in the whole market, the shopkeepers have also increased from Rs5-10/- per kg/litre ghee/cooking oil in the local market as available within range of Rs250-270/- and Rs280-300-310 per kg/litre.

According to the survey, prices of fresh fruits have become dearer in the local market. For instance, apples are being sold at Rs 150-180/- per kg, apricot at Rs200/- per kg, bananas available at Rs100/dozen, guava was being sold at Rs150/- per kg, peach at Rs100/- per kg. Prices of mangoes are still high side being as available within range of Rs150-and Rs200/- per kg, melon at Rs50/- per kg; watermelon was being sold at Rs40-50 per kg.

A considerable increase in prices of vegetables was witnessed in the local market, according to the survey. It added one kg ginger is being sold at Rs400, whereas green chili was available at Rs160/- per kg, cucumber at Rs50-60/- per kg, carrots at Rs60/- per kg, lemon at Rs100/-120/- and Rs140/- per kg.

One-kg tomato is being sold at Rs40, while onion was available at Rs40/- per kg and garlic at Rs150/- per kg, it was revealed.

It furthermore noticed that peas is being sold at Rs200/-250 per kg, capsicum at Rs150/- per kg, bitter gourd at Rs150/- per kg, lady finger at Rs120/- per kg, tori at Rs80-100/- per kg, arvi at Rs100-120/- per kg, kado at Rs80/- per kg, red potato at Rs70-80/- per kg while white-colored potato at Rs60 per kg, bringle at Rs50 per kg, cauliflower at Rs80/- per kg, cabbage at Rs60-70/- per kg.

The survey noticed the prices of food grains/ grocery items remained unchanged in the local market. A one-kg sugar is being sold at Rs100/- kg in the local market, whereas grain flour (baisen) was available at Rs120 per kg.

It was revealed that 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. Prices of cooking oil/ghee also remained high-side in the retail market.

Likewise, red bean is being sold within range of Rs180/- and Rs 200-220/- per kg, white lobia 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.

Dal chilka (green) was available at Rs160/- while dal chilka (black) was being sold at Rs220/- per kg.

Prices of dried fruits also touched a new peak in the retail market, which is unaffordable for people to buy in this winter season.

It was noticed that flour price has remained high-side as a 20-KG fine flour bag was being sold at Rs1300-1350 while mixed flour 20KG bag was being available at Rs1200-1250 in the local market.