In the absence of any price monitoring mechanism, the prices of essential kitchen items have increased manifold, according to a survey carried out by Business Recorder. The survey noted that shopkeepers are selling different kitchen items like meat, chicken, vegetables, fruits, pulses, wheat flour, cooking oil and other daily use items at higher rates of their own choice.
The increase in the prices of kitchen items was evident from the official figures released by Federal Bureau of Statistic (FBS) on September 16, 2010 as according to FBS weekly sensitive price index (SPI) registered an increase of 1.46 percent as compared to the previous week.
The survey showed that common vegetables like tomatoes, carrot, radish, onions, potato and cauliflower, which previously were being sold at Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kg, are now being sold at Rs 50 to 75 per kg. The trend indicates that the prices of vegetables have increased by 100 to 200 percent.
Different vegetables are being sold at following prices in the twin cities ie tomatoes at Rs 60-70 per kg, carrots at Rs 60 per kg, which normally are available at Rs 20 per kg, radish at Rs 60 per kg. Onions are being sold at Rs 50 per kg, potato at Rs 40 per kg, peas at Rs 80 per kg and cauliflower at Rs 70 per kg.
Chicken meat is being sold at Rs 280 against its previous price of Rs 180 to Rs 200; mutton at Rs 420 per kg against normal price of Rs 400 per kilo; beef at Rs 250-260 against Rs 190 per kilogram. Twenty kg normal wheat flour bag which previously was being sold at Rs 525 is now available at Rs 550.
Mash pulse is available at Rs 180 per kg, washed moong pulse at Rs 140, washed masoor pulse at Rs 110 and washed gram pulse at Rs 80 per kg. The prices of different fruits are also beyond the reach of common man as apple is being sold at Rs 80 per kg, banana at Rs 50 per dozen, grapes at Rs 250 per kg and mango at Rs 70 per kg, the survey showed.
The residents of different localities complained that due to the shortage of some brands of milk and reduction in supply of milk from other areas of twin-cities, the local milkmen are supplying substandard milk to the inflation-hit public.
Rabia Niazi, a housewife, told Business Recorder that the milkmen in the twin-cities are mixing different liquids in the milk and are playing with the lives of the people but there is no authority to check them. Ali Raza a buyer at a milk-shop commenting on the situation said that under the prevailing conditions a common man is unable to purchase milk as its price is beyond the reach, while unpacked milk is substandard.
He said that a few months back unpacked milk was being sold at Rs 40 to 45 per kg but within a short span of time the milkmen had increased the price of milk from Rs 45 to Rs 60, whereas the packed milk is being sold at Rs 72 per litre, which a few months back was available at Rs 56 per litre. He said due to price hike people find it difficult to make both ends meet, but it is a matter of concern that the authorities are playing the role of a silent spectator and not taking any action against certain cartels.