PESHAWAR: A sharp increase in prices of essential food commodities, including live chicken/meat, farm eggs, vegetables, pulses, cooking oil/ghee, flour and fresh fruits/dry fruits and others was witnessed in the retail market, according to a survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Sunday.

An increase of Rs15/- per kg was noticed in prices of live chicken as available at Rs211/- per kg against the price of Rs196/- per kg in the previous week, while a dozen of farm eggs are being sold at Rs220/- against the price of Rs200/-, the survey revealed.

Talking to this scribe, poultry traders and shopkeepers have attributed the prices have gone up owing to slapping new taxes on poultry products and rising demand in the chilling weather.

The survey witnessed butchers continuously squeezing poverty-stricken people by charging exorbitant rates as cow meat is being sold at Rs550-600/- per kg against the official fixed rate of Rs350/- per kg. Similarly, the survey noted mutton beef is being sold at Rs 1300-1400/- per kg.

Rs250-300 per 80-kg flour bag was increased in the wholesale market that has also triggered down effects in the local market, wherein Rs100 per 20-kg flour was registered, while the prices of wheat flour and maida remained high-side in the local market, it was revealed. Tandoor owners (bread makers) decreed a further increase in price of Roti if the prices were not sustained or revised.

Amid rising chill weather, the prices of dry-fruits have increased manifold in the local market while prices of fresh fruits also reached beyond purchasing power of common man.

The survey noticed the price of sugar has decreased at Rs92/- per kg from Rs95/- per kg while some shopkeepers are continuing to charge Rs100/- per kg in the local market.

The market sources said the prices would further go up in coming days after increase in taxes through Mini-budget, electricity, gas tariffs hike and fresh surge in prices of petroleum commodities. Is there any authorities to keep check on the rising prices of food items; buyers ask.

Fresh milk is being sold at Rs150-160 per liter while yogurt was being available at Rs120-140 per kg, the survey noted.

According to the survey, prices of different brands and qualities of cooking oil/ghee were also touched a new peak in the local market as available within the range of Rs280-300 per kg/liter, and Rs350-400/- per kg/liter in the retail market.

A mixed trend in prices of vegetables witnessed in the local market, the survey noted. One-kg tomatoes are being sold at Rs40-50/- per kg against the price of Rs70 per kg in the previous week, while onion was available at Rs50-60 per kg.

Similarly, the price of ginger has decreased at Rs350/- per kg from Rs400/- per kg, whereas garlic at Rs200-250 per kg. Cucumber was available at Rs40-50 per kg, green chili at Rs160 per kg while one-kg lemon was available at Rs120 per kg.

Peas are being available at Rs80 per kg, arvi at Rs100 per kg, cauliflower at Rs80 per kg, red-potatoes at Rs60-70 per kg, cabbage at Rs80 per kg, bringle at Rs50/- per kg. Long, apple and round gourds were available within range of Rs80-90/- per kg, while ladyfinger was available at Rs100-150/- per kg; one-kg karela (bitter gourd) was being sold at Rs150, Spinach at Rs30 per bundle, lemon at Rs120 per kg.

Prices of pulses/food grains remained unchanged in the retail market. Good quality rice (sela) was available at Rs160/- per kg, while toota rice was available at Rs80-90/- per kg. Gram flour (baisen) is being sold within the range of Rs80-100/- per kg in the retail market.

Dal mash is being sold at Rs280-300 per kg; big-size white chana was Rs160 per kg, dal chilka (green) at Rs140 per kg, dal chilka (black) at Rs160 per kg. Moonge was available at Rs200 per kg. Dhoti dal is being sold at Rs240 per kg.

Apples are being sold at Rs140-150 per kg against the price of Rs80 per kg, mangoes within range of Rs100-120 and Rs150, apricot at Rs250 per kg against the rate of Rs160 per kg, the survey noted.

Similarly, bananas were available at Rs100-150 per dozen against the price of Rs70-80 per dozen, grapes were being sold at Rs300 per kg; guava was available at Rs120-150 per kg against the price of Rs80 per kg.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022