ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed an increasing trend during this week past against the previous week, revealed a survey carried out by media, here on Saturday.
The survey observed a slight increase in wheat flour price, as the best quality wheat flour price in the wholesale market went up from Rs1300 to Rs1325 per 15kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs1350 per 15kg bag; normal quality wheat flour bag price went up from Rs1270 to Rs1290 per 15kg bag in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs1320 per bag.
It was further noted that the tandoor operators and bakery owners in the twin cities have started partially implementing official roti, naan, and paratha prices as tandoor owners in urban centers are selling roti at Rs20, naan at Rs25, and paratha price 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.
Sugar price slightly went up from Rs6900 to Rs6950 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 Rs10,400 to Rs11,200 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs310-315 per kg against Rs280-290 per kg, while chicken meat is being sold at Rs520-530 per kg against Rs500-520 per kg; egg price went down from Rs6,900 to Rs6,600 per carton, which in retail are being sold at Rs240 per dozen against Rs250 per dozen.
Mutton and beef prices remained stable as mutton is available at Rs2000 per kg, boneless beef at Rs1200 per kg, and normal beef at Rs1000 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 being sold at Rs800 per kg against Rs700 per kg and red chili powder at Rs550 per kg against Rs650 per kg.
The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices went down 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 (OGRA)’s 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 witnessed a mixed trend in the wholesale market as the best quality basmati is available at Rs10,000, 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 against Rs7,900 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs200 per kg against Rs225 per kg.
Ghee-cooking oil prices remained stable as B-grade ghee/oil is available at Rs5200 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 an increase as best quality maash is available at Rs530 against Rs500 per kg, gram pulse at Rs250 against Rs220 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 against Rs250 per kg, and masoor at Rs280 per kg.
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