ISLAMABAD: The prices of the essential kitchen items have witnessed a mixed trend during this week against previous week, a survey carried out by media revealed.
The survey observed a reduction in sugar price which in the wholesales went down from Rs 7,400 to Rs 7,300 per 50 kg bag which in retail market is being sold in the range of Rs155-160 per kg.
Wheat flour price witnessed a further increase as it went up from Rs 2,100 to Rs 2,150 per 15kg bag which in retail is being sold at Rs 2,200 against Rs 2,130-2,150 per 15 kg bag. However, the tandoor owners have kept the price of Roti, Naan, and Paratha unchanged as Roti being sold at Rs20, Naan at Rs23-25, and Paratha at Rs60.
No fluctuation was witnessed in bakery and confectionery item prices as normal-sized bread is available at Rs150 against Rs140, small-sized size at Rs110 against 110, while family size price went up from Rs200 to Rs210.
The survey observed a reduction in chicken prices as it went down from Rs 16,500 to Rs 15,000 per 40 kg in wholesale market and in retail is being sold at Rs390-400 per kg against Rs445-460per kg, while chicken meat is available in the range of Rs650-750 against Rs700-800 per kg varying area to area. An increase in the egg prices was noted which went up from Rs 10,020 per carton containing 30 dozen to Rs 10,300 in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling eggs in the range of Rs340-360 per dozen.
Mutton and beef prices remained stable as normal quality mutton is available at Rs 2,400 per kg while the best quality is being sold in the range of Rs 2,700-2,800 per kg, normal quality boneless beef is available at Rs 1,500 per kg, and normal mixed beef at Rs 1,300 per kg. Various varieties of fish are available in the range of Rs600 to Rs 1000per kg.
The survey noted a mixed trend in ghee/cooking oil prices as B-grade ghee/oil price went up from Rs 6,200 to Rs 6,250 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs410 per pack of 900 grams, while the best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee price went down from Rs 2,845 to Rs 2,820 per 5kg tin which in retail are being sold at Rs 2,900 per 5-litre bottle.
No changes were witnessed in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as officially the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has set the commodity price at Rs219.67 per kilogram, however the retailers are selling LPG at much higher rates as per kg LPG is being sold in the range of Rs330-350 against official rate of Rs219.67 while a domestic cylinder containing 15 kg LPG is being sold at Rs 4,700 against Rs 3,295, reflecting an overcharging of Rs 1,405 per domestic cylinder of 15 kg.
The marketing companies, distributors and retailers all are overcharging per domestic cylinder by 1,405 per cylinder and per kg by Rs130-150 as OGRA and other relevant authorities which include which local representatives, Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Tehsildars, Representatives of traders, farmers and retailers aren’t trying to monitor the market situation to enforce the official rates as a result consumers are compelled to pay high rates.
The prices of the various varieties of rice went down in the range of Rs600-700 per 40kg as price of the best quality basmati rice in wholesale market went down from Rs 12,500 to Rs 11,900 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs340 per kg, normal quality Basmati from Rs 11,000 to Rs 10,300 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs300 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati from Rs 8,400 to Rs 7,700 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs230 per kg, while normal quality Basmati price went down from Rs 5,500-6,5000 to Rs 5,000-5,900 per 40kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs140-180 per kg.
No changes were witnessed in tea prices, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs 2,200 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs 1,800 per kg; turmeric powder and chilli powder prices witnessed no changes as turmeric powder is available Rs650 per kg in wholesale market which retailers are selling in the range of Rs700-1,000 per kg and red chilli powder price remained stable at Rs600 per kg which retailers selling at Rs700-850 per kg.
The prices of cooked food items remained stable as a cooked dal/vegetable plate at a normal hotel is available at Rs320, a cooked beef plate at Rs550, a cooked chicken plate at Rs500, cooked mutton at Rs750, and naan/roti is being sold at Rs25/30 and a cup of tea in the range of Rs70-100 per cup.
No changes were witnessed in the prices of branded spices such as Shan, National, and others, which are available at Rs150 per 39-gram pack. However, traders told this correspondent that the suppliers have increased the rate of sachet pack from Rs70 to Rs80 and are all set to further increase the spices prices by Rs10 per pack prior to Ramadan.
Pulse prices witnessed no changes in wholesale as well as in retail market as maash pulse is available at Rs 12,800 per 40kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs400-460 per kg, gram pulse price in wholesale market is available at Rs 8,000 per 40 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs240-250, best quality whole gram pulse wholesale is available at Rs 9,500 which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs 280-Rs300 per kg while normal gram pulse at Rs260 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils in the range of Rs400-500 per kg, moong pulse is available at Rs360, and masoor pulse is available at Rs260 per kg.
Prices of packed milk brands Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others witnessed an increase as per carton of litre pack price went up from Rs 3800-4000 to Rs 4,300 per carton, while in retail it is being sold at Rs380 per litre against 360 per litre, the price of a carton of 250ml packed milk went up from Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,2500 which in market is being sold at Rs100 against Rs95 per 250ml. Fresh milk prices in some parts of the twin cities are being sold at Rs250 per litre, while in some parts are still being sold at Rs240 per litre, and the yogurt price is stable at Rs250 per kg. No changes were observed in the prices of powder milk, such as Nido and Lactogen, as 400-gram Nido powder milk is available at Rs 1,350, and a 200 gram pack at Rs750 per pack.
Overall bathing soaps’ prices remained stable as Safeguard is available at Rs165 per pack, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolives, and others are available at Rs180 per pack, and detergent prices, such as Ariel Surf, Brite, Express Power, and others also remained stable at Rs530per kg pack.
The prices of various brands of cold drinks such as Pepsi, Coke, Miranda, and others remained stable as a family-size bottle is available at Rs230.
Overall vegetable prices witnessed a mixed trend. Potatoes price remained stable at Rs 1,100-1,300 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs40-60 per kg while government fixed price is Rs20-25 per kg; onion price in wholesale market went further down from 2,300-4,000 to Rs 1,500-3,800 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs40-60 while the government fixed price is Rs22-50 per kg and tomato prices went down from Rs750 to Rs700 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs80-100 while official price is fixed at Rs44-75 per kg.
Ginger price remained stable at 1,000-1,100 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs350-400, while official rate is fixed at Rs220-290 per kg, garlic prices remained stable as local garlic is available at Rs450 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs175-200, while official rate is set at Rs143-175 per kg, Quetta garlic price also remained stable at Rs 1,200 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs300-350 per kg against official rate of Rs253-303 per kg and China garlic price is stable Rs 1,700 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs400-450 per kg against government has set China garlic rate at Rs385-450 per kg, however majority of vendors are selling local garlic in the name of China/Quetta to maximize their profits.
Capsicum price went up from Rs320 to Rs450 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs130-150 against Rs110-120 while official price is fixed at Rs110-127per kg, prices of various varieties of pumpkins went down from Rs150-250 to Rs150-200 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs55-90 against official price of Rs44-66 per kg; various types of tinda price went up from Rs350-400 to Rs400-450 per 5 kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs120-140 against Rs100-120 per kg while government fixed rates of Rs99-110 per kg; eggplant price went up from Rs200 to Rs300 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs80-100 against Rs65-80 per kg while official rates are fixed at Rs72-77 per kg; cauliflower price went up from Rs120 to Rs150 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs50-60 against Rs50-70 official price of Rs38-44 per kg and cabbage price remained stable at Rs230 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs65-75 against official price of Rs55-60 per kg, fresh-bean price remained stable at Rs200 per 5 kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs90-100 while official price is fixed at Rs60-66 per kg, peas price remained stable at Rs250 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs75-90 while official rate is fixed at Rs60-72 per kg.
The official rate list is issued after close collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders with giving a profit margin of Rs10 per kg to the sellers around the wholesale market Rs15-25 per kg profit margin to most parts of the capital city and Rs20-40 profit margin for the sellers in posh areas. But still no vender, pushcart holder and shopkeeper is following the official price list.
Fruit prices witnessed an increasing trend as bananas are available in the range of Rs80-175 against Rs70-150 per dozen, various varieties of apples in the range of Rs120-400against Rs100-350 per kg, with white apples at Rs120 per kg cheapest and Iranian Kalakilo apple at Rs400 per kg, guava in the range of Rs70-120 against Rs70-130 against per kg, various varieties of oranges in the range of Rs75-350 against Rs60-300 per dozen, various varieties of grapes in the range of Rs275-500 per kg and pomegranates in the range of Rs400-650 against Rs600-800 per kg.
People have urged the authorities to either enforce an official price list or stop doing such an exercise which has no benefit to the masses.
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