The manufacturers of cooking oil and ghee are all set once again to give a price hike shock to the consumers in the form of increase in the price of one of the most important kitchen items by Rs 80 to Rs 110 per 5 kg, a survey carried out by Business Recorder showed.
Traders at Gunj Mandi Rawalpindi (grains and cooking oil wholesale market) told Business Recorder that suppliers of cooking oil, tea, ghee, bread, jam, and other kitchen essential are increasing the prices of these items routinely on monthly or weekly basis without any check.
They said that cooking oil/ghee marketing companies like Dalda have taken lead in increasing prices, and this trend would not change. They are set to increase the prices of cooking oil/ghee by Rs 18 to Rs 21 per kg within next few days, hitting those living below the poverty line, they added. The survey noted that the price of ghee/cooking oil has gone up by Rs 25 per kg within a month. Dalda, Habib, Tullo etc were available at Rs 750 to Rs 780 per 5 kg, which now cost Rs 890.
The price of sugar also went up by Rs 180 per 50 kg bag from Rs 3,100 to Rs 3,280. Fruit prices during the week also registered handsome increase. Orange which cost Rs 60 per dozen a week ago are being sold at Rs 80 per dozen; apple from Rs 90 to Rs 120 per kg, banana from Rs 50 to Rs 60 per dozen and guava from Rs 50 per kg to Rs 60 per kg.
Suppliers of loose tea leaves increased the prices by Rs 70 per kg, from Rs 410 per kg in January to Rs 480 per kg. Branded tea companies increased the price of one kg tea pack by Rs 35. The prices of powdered chillies, turmeric and branded salt have been increased by Rs 20, Rs 30 and Rs 2 per kg respectively. Per Kg grinded chillies were available at Rs 200 last week, turmeric at Rs 270 per kg and branded salt at Rs 13 per kg, which are now being sold at Rs 220 per kg, Rs 300 per kg and Rs 15 per kg respectively.
Traders told Business Recorder said that although the government has constituted a high powered National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC), there has been no check on increase in prices of essential commodities which constitute the kitchen basket.
Nasir Khan a buyer at Abbpara market said that he belongs to Peshawar where prices of most of the kitchen items are relatively higher as compared to the twin cities. He said that 20 kg wheat flour bag being sold at Rs 590 in twin cities is available at Rs 640 in Peshawar. The items which recorded decrease in prices were onions, potatoes, garlic, sugar, farm egg, LPG gas, and gram pulse.