ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed an increase during this week past against the previous week, revealed a survey carried out by media, here on Saturday.
The survey noted that the wholesalers of all the essential kitchen items have increased the prices on the plea that the government has levied general sales tax on various items, saying that an increase was inevitable. However, the new budget will be enforced on July 1, 2024 with commence of new financial year.
Wheat flour price increased by Rs100 per 15kg bag as the best quality wheat flour price went up from Rs1,280 to Rs1,380 per 15kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs1,420 against Rs1,310 per 15kg bag, normal quality wheat flour bag is being sold at Rs1,350 against Rs1,250 per 15kg bag in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs1,380 against Rs1,280.
Sugar price went slightly down from Rs7,050 to Rs7,000 per 50kg bag in the wholesale market, while in retail, sugar is being sold at Rs150 per kg.
Chicken prices in wholesale market went down from Rs12,000 per 40kg to Rs10,800, which in retail is being sold at Rs320 per kg against Rs345 per kg, while chicken meat is being sold at Rs520 per kg against Rs580 per kg; egg prices went down from Rs7,200 to Rs6,800 per carton, which in retail are being sold at Rs250 against Rs255 per dozen.
Mutton and beef prices remained stable as mutton is available at Rs2,000 per kg, boneless beef at Rs1,200 per kg, and normal beef at Rs1,000 per kg.
Tea prices witnessed no changes as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs2,200 per 900 gram pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs1,800 per kg; turmeric powder price went up from Rs700 to Rs800 per kg and red chili powder price went up from Rs550 to Rs600 per kg.
The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices are stable as the commodity is officially available at Rs234 per kg while in the market LPG price went up from Rs290 to Rs300 per kg, which is Rs66 per kg higher than the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA)’s set price of Rs234 per kg. The OGRA has set 15kg domestic cylinder LPG price at Rs3,200, while in various parts of the country it is available at Rs4,500-5,000 per 15kg cylinder, reflecting an overcharging of Rs1,300-1,800 per cylinder. The LPG marketing companies, distributors and retailers annually are making billions of rupees through profiteering due to ineffective role of OGRA and other relevant authorities.
The prices of the branded spices such as Shan, National, and others witnessed no changes as a pack of 39 grams spice is available at Rs130. The price of a cooked daal plate at a normal hotel is Rs250 and a cooked vegetable plate is Rs250.
Rice prices witnessed an increase as in the wholesale market the best quality basmati rice price went up from Rs9,000 to Rs9,800 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs300 against Rs280 per kg, normal quality Basmati price went up from Rs8,400 to Rs8,700 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs240 against Rs230 per kg, and broken Basmati price went up from Rs7,500 to Rs7,300 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs200 against Rs185 per kg.
Ghee-cooking oil prices witnessed an increase as B-grade ghee/oil price went up from at Rs5,400 to Rs5,500 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs350-360 per pack, while best quality cooking oil-ghee brands such as Dalda ghee are available at Rs2,450 per 5kg tin and cooking oil at Rs2,500 per 5-litre bottle.
Pulses’ prices witnessed an increase as best quality maash is available at Rs540 per kg against Rs525, gram pulse price witnessed Rs60 increase as it went up from Rs240 to Rs300 per kg, whole gram pulse from Rs300 to Rs330 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils are available in the range of Rs360-560 per kg, moong pulse price went up from Rs280 to Rs300 per kg, and masoor price went up from Rs280 to Rs300 per kg.
American Dollar Exchange Rate