ISLAMABAD: The packed milk prices have witnessed a significant increase in the market as the leading suppliers have increased the price of their products from Rs1,680 to Rs1,780 per carton, a survey carried out by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday.

During the survey, traders at wholesale markets of Rawalpindi and Islamabad told this correspondent that two leading packed milk suppliers, Nestle Milk Pack and Olpers have increased wholesale prices of their products by Rs100 per carton each from Rs1,680 per carton to Rs1,780 per carton.

Traders further said that consequently the retailers had also increased the prices from Rs150 per litre pack to Rs160 per litre pack, and Rs38 per quarter litre pack to Rs40 per quarter litre pack.

Moreover, after the increase in wheat flour prices, the tandoor owners have also increased the price of normal size Roti from Rs10 to Rs12, while price of standard size roti from Rs12 to Rs15.

Tandoor owners said that the increase in roti price was inevitable as the wheat flour price had jumped from Rs3,700 per 84 kg bag to Rs5,800 per 80 kg bag, adding that the flour millers had not only increased the flour prices but also reduced the size of bag from 84 kg to 80 kg.

During the week under review, egg prices remained stable at Rs115 per dozen, which in retail are being sold at Rs120-125 per dozen, and chicken price jumped from Rs4,500 per 40 kg to Rs4,800 per 40 kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs135 per kg against Rs130 per kg, and chicken meat from Rs200 per kg to Rs210 per kg.

Sugar in wholesale market is available at Rs4,600 per 50 kg bag against Rs4,650 per 50 kg bag, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs97 per kg to Rs105 per kg.

Traders said that sugar and wheat flour prices were seeing continuous increase, since Prime Minister Imran Khan in June 2020 took notice of the price hike of the two most important kitchen items.

Traders further said that on July 2, 2020, PM Khan took notice of increasing wheat flour prices, which at that time had crossed Rs950 per 20 kg bag and fixed commodity price at Rs860 per 20 kg but since than, the wheat flour prices have increased from Rs860 per 20 kg to Rs1,220 per bag.

The traders further said flour millers were playing different tactics with the government and the consumers, saying they on one week they reduce bag size from 20 kg to 15 kg, next week increasing from 15 kg bag to 25 kg, introducing new increased prices but when the government takes action they reduce it to 20 kg bag but with the new hiked prices. Since June 2020, the flour millers have increased the commodity price by Rs20 per kg but there is no authority to hold them accountable.

During the week, vegetables prices witnessed a declining trend as best quality potatoes remained stable at Rs270 per 5kg, while normal is available at Rs250 per 5kg, while in retail market best quality potatoes are being sold at Rs70 per kg, while normal at Rs60 per kg.

Onions price went down from Rs220 per 5kg to Rs175 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs45 per kg against Rs55 per kg.

Tomato price went down from Rs350 per 5kg to Rs275 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs65-70 per kg against Rs85 per kg.

Garlic price remained stable at Rs700 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs180 per kg, and ginger price remained stable at Rs2,200 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs500 per kg.

Peas price jumped up from Rs600 per 5 kg to Rs750 per 5 kg which in retail are being sold at Rs190 per kg against Rs150 per kg, cucumber price went down from Rs150 per 5 kg to Rs130 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs35 per kg against Rs40 per kg, okra price remained stable at Rs180 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs50 per kg, bitter-gourd price went down from Rs150 per 5 kg to Rs100 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs30 per kg against Rs40 per kg. Cauliflower price went down from Rs275 per 5 kg to Rs250 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs70 per kg and cabbage price went down from Rs320 per 5 kg to Rs250 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs60 per kg against Rs75a per kg. Fresh bean prices went down from Rs400 per 5 kg to Rs350 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs80-90 per kg against Rs90-100 per kg, zucchini price went down from Rs200 per 5 kg to Rs150 per kg which in retail are being sold at Rs45 per kg against Rs50 per kg. During this week ghee/cooking oil prices remained unchanged as second grade ghee/cooking oil in wholesales market is available at Rs2,510 per carton of 16 packs which in retail is being sold at Rs170 per pack, and to grade cooking oil/ghee is being sold at Rs1,250 per 5 litre bottle. Rice prices also witnessed no changes during this week as the best quality Basmati rice is available at Rs6,100 per 40 kg and 2nd best quality from at Rs5,400 per kg while broken Basmati rice price at Rs4,000 per kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs180, Rs160 and Rs110 per kg respectively.

During the week under review, prices of most of the pulses witnessed further decline as moong is being sold Rs250 per kg against Rs260 per kg, maash pulse from Rs240 per kg to Rs220 per kg, best quality Lobia from Rs280 per kg to Rs260 per kg, masoor pulse from Rs160 per kg to Rs150 per kg and chana pulse from Rs135 per kg to Rs130 per kg. No changes were witnessed in top brands of ghee/cooking oil, tea, spices, powder milk, salt, chillis, turmeric and other items.

Overall fruit prices witnessed a mixed trend as best quality white apple price further went down from Rs180 per kg to Rs150 per kg, while normal is available in the range of Rs120-130 per kg against Rs130-145 per kg, Gajja apple is being sold at Rs100 per kg against Rs120 per kg. Good quality banana is being sold at Rs100 per dozen Rs100 per dozen while normal quality at Rs80-90 per dozen against Rs65-75 per dozen. Various qualities of melons are available in the range of Rs40-100 per kg, various qualities of peach in the range of Rs150-250 per kg against Rs100-225 per kg. Mangoes are available in the range of Rs90-150 per kg, apricot at Rs150 per kg against Rs160 per kg, grapes at Rs200 per kg and Sweet orange at Rs150 per dozen.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020