With the absence of price monitoring mechanism, prices of all essential kitchen items have been increased significantly ahead of Eidul Fitr, reveals a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Saturday. Market players-retailers and wholesalers have increased the prices of all essential kitchen items, including tomatoes, potatoes green chili, bananas, wheat flour bag 10-kg, mash pulse washed, gur and milk (fresh) last week as compared to the preceding week.
During the week under review, onions were being sold at Rs 70-75per kg against Rs 65 per kg last week, reflecting an increase of Rs 5-10 per kg , tomatoes were being sold at Rs 100-115 per kg, against Rs 90-100 per kg week past price, registering an increase of Rs 5-10 per kg, potatoes at Rs 45-50 per kg, green chili at Rs 80-85 per kg, bananas were being sold at Rs 200-240 per dozen against Rs 180-210 per dozen last week, reflecting an increase of Rs 20-30 per dozen, wheat flour bag (10kg) was available at Rs 410 against Rs 405 per 10-kg bag last week, reflecting an increase of Rs 5 per bag, mash pulse washed at Rs 140-160 per kg, gur at Rs 105-113 per kg and fresh milk was available at Rs 100-105 per liter last week as compared to the preceding week.
A vegetable dealer at Sabzi Mandi Islamabad told that tomatoes, potatoes, onions, green chili and garlic are mostly used on the occasion of Eid festivities, adding that it is expected that the prices of the items will soar up to 50 to 100 percent on Eid -day. He said that as there is no check on vegetable prices by the government, vegetable dealers are enjoying a free hand to charge prices in view of demand and supply. He added that the impact of a higher transportation cost on account of the recent increase in petroleum products prices is also making vegetables costly.
Meanwhile, the survey noted significant increase in the prices of Aftari items like pokara, samosa , dates, dhai bhaly, fruit chat, chana caht and Jalebis last week as compared to the preceding week as Pakora were being sold at Rs 245-275 per kg, Jalebi at Rs 190-250 per kg, Samosa were being sold at Rs 155-245 per dozen, dates at Rs 160/210 per, while a plate of dhai bhaly, fruit chat, chana chat was being sold at Rs 75 each. The survey also observed steep increase in the prices of different varieties of sweets last week as compared to the preceding week as mix sweet was being sold at Rs 450-500 against Rs 350-400, reflecting an increase of Rs 50-100 per kg while it is expected that the prices will be further swelled up on the Eid -day. The survey noted that during the week under review eggs were being sold at Rs 80-85 per dozen, chicken at Rs 155-170 per kg, beef at Rs 280-300 per kg while mutton was being sold at Rs 600-620 per kg last week as compared to the preceding week.
