Prices of vegetables and fruits have increased by 30-40 percent a few days prior to Eid-ul-Azha, claimed traders in the local market. Talking to Business Recorder here on Tuesday, the traders said that price of tomato had doubled as it had gone up from Rs 40 to Rs 80 per kilogram, witnessing an increase of Rs 40 per kilogram. They feared the price might further increase to Rs 100 to Rs 120 per kilogram till Eid day.
Tomato price rise is followed by a rise in the price of onions, as these are two major inputs for curry. Onion price has jumped from Rs 25 per kilogram to Rs 35 per kilogram and is expected to reach Rs 50 per kilogram. The price of okra has gone up from Rs 40 per kilogram to Rs 55 per kilogram, registering an increase of Rs 15 per kilogram.
The price of potato has also jumped from Rs 25 to Rs 35 per kilogram. Similarly, the price of chilly has increased by Rs 25 per kilogram. The prices of fruits have witnessed an increase of 40 to 50 percent. The price of banana has gone up to Rs 50 per dozen from Rs 35 per dozen. Price of apple has gone up from Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kilogram, witnessing an increase of Rs 20 per kilogram and it is expected that it would touch Rs 120 per kilogram.
Rasheed Ahmad, a resident of Abpara Market, told this scribe that Pakistanis had been grumbling about rising inflation for more than a year, but during the past few days, the price hike had been dramatic. Vegetables and fruit prices have jumped manifold and its impact was already being felt by the poor segments of the society, he added. People of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad criticised the Federal and the district government for their failure to provide essential commodities, including vegetables and fruits at reasonable prices.