Retailers have once again increased sugar price by Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg in the twin cities of Rawalpindi/ Islamabad and other parts of the Potohar region, a survey carried out by Business Recorder showed. Traders at wholesale market in Rawalpindi blamed the retailers for jacking up the sugar price, adding that wholesalers were trading per 100 kg bag of imported sugar at Rs 7,000, and locally produced sugar at Rs 8,000 per 100 kg bag.
They said that main sugar stockists have released stocks in the market after the government started raids on their godowns. Within the last two days, sugar price has increased by Rs 15 to 20, which currently is being sold at Rs 90-100 against the official price of Rs 72 per kg, traders said.
Abdul Rehman Awan, a sugar dealer, said that 100 kg bag of local sugar is available at Rs 8,000, which before Eid-ul-Azha was being sold at Rs 10,800. Waseem Khan, a trader, said that government officials were continually conducting raids on shops, but shopkeepers keep charging high rates without fear of any government action.
During the week, the price of eggs increased from Rs 72 per dozen to Rs 84, onions from Rs 70 to Rs 80 per kg and banana from Rs 50 to Rs 60 per dozen. However, prices of most of the fruits remained stable as per kg apples were available at Rs 100 and pomegranate at Rs 140 per kg. Prices of tomato, potatoes, garlic, ginger and other vegetables have witnessed a declining trend during the past week. Meanwhile, the prices of an entire range of dry fruits have registered a phenomenal increase this year with peanuts kernels being sold at Rs 100-200, which last year were being sold at Rs 100-120 per kg, and is now selling at Rs 120 to Rs 300.
The most prominent price hike among all dried fruits is recorded in pine-nut (chilgoza) at Rs 2,400 per kg as compared to 1,200 per kg last year, the survey noted. The rate of cashew-nut (kajoo) has soared to Rs 1,000 per kg from Rs 800 per kg in 2009, salted pistachio is being sold at Rs 1,000 per kg as compared to Rs 800 per kg last year and American almonds (with shell) now sell at Rs 800 per kg as compared to Rs 650 per kg last year. Locally produced walnut (with shell) can be purchased at Rs 300 per kg as compared to Rs 200-225 per kg in 2009.
Good quality raisins (kishmish) is being sold at Rs 380 per kg as compared to Rs 250 per kg in 2009, while better quality local dried dates are available at Rs 400 per kg as compared to Rs 300 per kg last year. Medium quality dry dates are now available at Rs 200 per kg as compared to Rs 80-100 per kg last year. Kamran Chughtai, owner of Chughtai Dry Fruit Shop at Commercial Market Rawalpindi, said that depreciation of rupee is the main reason for the hike in imported dried fruits rates.
He said that tribal areas, Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan are main dry fruit producing areas in Pakistan but the arrival of dry fruits from these areas was inadequate this year as floods and heavy rains destroyed most of the orchards this year. "Due to rising cost of living and surging utility bills, people are purchasing dry fruits in limited quantities," he added.