Owing to the absence of effective price control mechanism, essential food items were sold at higher prices at retail markets of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad last week as compared to the preceding week, reveals a survey conducted by Business Recorder on Saturday.
The survey noted that essential food items were not being sold on uniform rates in the different markets of the twin cities and there was a huge difference between wholesale and retail markets. Almost all perishable food items were being sold on higher rate in different markets of the twin cities, however, actual rate of the food items in vegetable markets were very low.
During the week under review, tomato was being sold at Rs 40 per kg at whole sale market, while it was being sold at Rs 50-55 in retail market, onion was being available at Rs 40 per kg in wholesale market, while it was being sold at Rs 50 per kg in retail market, potato was being available at Rs 25-30 in wholesale market, while it was being sold at Rs 35-40 in retail market.
Similarly, price differential was also witnessed in other vegetables, including peas which were being sold at Rs 40 per kg in wholesale market, while they were available at Rs 50-60 per kg in retail market, green chili at Rs 100 in retail market, carrot and radish were being sold at Rs 30 per kg in retail market, ginger at Rs 200 per kg and garlic was being sold at Rs 150 per kg last week as compared to the preceding week.
In case of fruit prices, particularly citrus fruit, the statistics were very shocking as they were being sold on 30-40 percent higher rate in retail market as compared to the whole sale market. Kino was available at Rs 70-80 per dozen in whole sale market while it was being sold at 100-160 per dozen in retail market, malta was available at Rs 90- 110 per dozen in whole sale market, but was being sold at Rs 130-200 per dozen in retail market. Apple was being sold at Rs 100- 160 per kg in retail market, grapes were available at Rs 300 per kg, bananas at Rs 80-130 per dozen and guava was being sold at Rs 100-120 per kg during the period under review.
The survey noted that prices of most of the non-perishable food items remain unchanged last week as compared to the preceding week as sugar was being sold at Rs 55 to Rs 60 per kg, wheat flour 10 kg bag at Rs 400, cooking oil tin (2.5 Liter) at Rs 540, vegetable ghee tin (2.5 kg) at Rs 510, vegetable ghee loose at Rs 140-175, curd at Rs 90 per kg, milk fresh at Rs 70-85, eggs were being sold at Rs 100 per dozen, moong washed was being sold at Rs 150-160 per kg, masoor washed was available at Rs 130-140 per kg, mash washed at Rs 140-160 per kg, moong washed was being sold at Rs 150-160 per kg, masoor washed was available at Rs 135-150 per kg, mash washed at Rs 140-160 per kg, rice at Rs 80- 150 per kg, Tea loose Rs 560 per kg, spices at Rs 290-300 ( 250 gm) last week as compared to the preceding week.
The survey noted slight decline in chicken (live) prices last week as compared to the preceding week as it was being sold at Rs 150-155 per kg against Rs 160 per kg past week price, mutton was being sold at Rs 600-620 per kg, while beef was being sold at Rs 300 per kg last week as compared to the preceding week.