ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed a declining trend during this week past against the previous week, revealed a survey carried out by media, here on Saturday.
Wheat flour price remained stable as the best quality wheat flour is available at Rs1300 per 15kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs1330 per 15kg bag, normal quality wheat flour bag at Rs1270 per 15kg bag in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs1300.
The tandoor operators and bakery owners in the twin cities have yet not fully implemented the official roti, naan, and paratha rates as tandoor owners in urban centers are selling roti at Rs20, naan at Rs25, and paratha at Rs50, while the district administration has fixed roti price in urban areas at Rs18, in rural areas at Rs16, naan price in urban areas at Rs22, and in rural areas at Rs20.
The bakery owners have also partially passed on the benefit to end consumers as large size bread is available at Rs120 against Rs130 and small size at Rs80 against Rs90. It is also noted that the tandoor owners have reduced the roti weigh from 100 grams to 90 grams.
Sugar price went up from Rs6,950 to Rs7,050 per 50kg bag in the wholesale market, while in retail, sugar is being sold at Rs150 per kg. Chicken prices in wholesale market went up from Rs11,800 to Rs12,000 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs340-345 per kg against Rs330-335 per kg, while chicken meat is being sold at Rs550-580 per kg; egg prices are stable at Rs6,600 per carton, which in retail are being sold at Rs240 per dozen.
Mutton and beef prices remained stable as mutton is available at Rs2000 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 Rs2200 per 900 gram pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs1800 per kg; turmeric powder is stable at Rs800 per kg and red chilli powder at Rs550 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 is being sold at Rs290 per kg, which is Rs56 per kg higher than the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s (OGRA) set price of Rs234 per kg. The OGRA has set 15kg domestic cylinder LPG price at Rs3200, while in various parts of the country it is available at Rs4500-5000 per 15kg cylinder, reflecting an overcharging of Rs1300-1800 per cylinder.
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 are stable in the wholesale market as the best quality basmati is available at Rs10000, which in retail is being sold at Rs300 per kg, normal quality Basmati at Rs9000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs240 per kg, and broken Basmati price at Rs7,500, which in retail is being sold at Rs200 per kg.
Ghee-cooking oil prices witnessed an increase as B-grade ghee/oil price went up from Rs5200 to Rs5450 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs340-350 per pack, while best quality cooking oil-ghee brands such as Dalda ghee are available at Rs2450 per 5kg tin and cooking oil at Rs2480 per 5-litre bottle.
Pulses’ prices witnessed no changes as best quality maash is available at Rs530, gram pulse at Rs250 per kg, whole gram pulse at Rs320 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils are available in the range of Rs360-560 per kg, moong at Rs300 per kg, and masoor at Rs280 per kg.