ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have increased during this week past against previous week, revealed a survey carried out by media here on Saturday.
The survey noted that following an increase in petrol and diesel prices the transporters have across the board increased transport fares as public service vans plying inside the cities increased stop-to-stop fares by Rs2 per passenger, intercity buses hiked fares in the range of Rs25-200 per passenger depending on the distance and the service. Taxis, rickshaws, loaders and other private transporters have also hiked the fares which have resulted in increasing the prices of everything. Moreover, Pakistan Railways has also hiked freight rates by three percent.
Wheat flour price increased by Rs200 per 15kg bag or Rs13.33 per kg as the best quality wheat flour price went up from Rs1,280 to Rs1,480 per 15kg bag in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs1,520 against Rs1,310 per 15kg bag, normal quality wheat flour bag is being sold at Rs1,450 against Rs1,250 per 15kg bag in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs1,480 against Rs1,280. Sugar price within the past one week witnessed an increase of Rs400 per 50kg bag as in the wholesale market, sugar is available at Rs7,200 against Rs6,800 per 50kg bag, while in retail, sugar is being sold at Rs150 per kg. Chicken prices went up from Rs10,800 to Rs11,700 per 40kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold at Rs325 per kg against Rs310 per kg and chicken meat is available at Rs550 per kg against Rs530, egg price is stable at Rs6,800 per carton of 30 dozens which in retail is being sold at Rs250 per dozen.
Mutton and beef prices also went up as normal quality mutton is available at Rs2,100 per kg against Rs2,000 per kg, normal quality boneless beef price went up from Rs1,200 per kg to Rs1,250 per kg, and normal beef from Rs1,000 per kg to Rs1,050.
Tea prices witnessed no changes as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs2,200 per 900grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs1,800 per kg; turmeric powder price went up from Rs700 to Rs800 per kg and red chilli 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’s (OGRA) set price of Rs234 per kg. The prices of branded spices such as Shan, National, and others, witnessed no changes as a pack of 39 grams spice is available at Rs130.
Following an increase in the prices of edible items, the restaurant and hotel owners are also all set to increase the prices of cooked food items in the range of 10 to 20 percent. At present, the price of a cooked daal plate at a normal hotel is Rs250 and a cooked vegetable plate is Rs250 which is likely to go up to Rs270 per plate.
Rice prices witnessed an increase as in the wholesale market the best quality basmati rice price went up from Rs9,000 to Rs11,800 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs330 against Rs280 per kg, normal quality Basmati price went up from Rs8,400 to Rs9,500 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs270 against Rs230 per kg, and broken Basmati price went up from Rs7,300 to Rs8,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs220 against Rs185 per kg.
Ghee/cooking oil prices witnessed an increase as B-grade ghee/oil price went up from Rs5,400 to Rs5,800 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 retail price witnessed an increase of Rs90 as it went up from Rs240 to Rs330 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 price went up from Rs280 to Rs300 per kg, and masoor price went up from Rs280 to Rs300 per kg.
Packed milk prices recorded a significant increase as the price of small pack of Milk Pak went up from Rs75 per pack to Rs95, litre pack price from Rs270 to Rs370 per litre pack. The suppliers of fresh milk are also all set to increase milk price from Rs220 per kg to Rs250 per kg and yoghurt price from Rs250 per kg to Rs280 per kg. Powder Milk like Nido and Lactogen prices also increased as 400 gram powder milk price went up from Rs1,150 to Rs1,320 and 200 gram pack from Rs600 to Rs700 per pack.
According to traders, so far detergents’ and bathing soaps’ prices have not increased as Safeguard family size pack is available at Rs170, family size Lux at Rs130, and Ariel Surf and other detergents at Rs600 per kg pack, but in the coming days, prices of these items will also go up.
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