Prices of entire range of Ramazan-specific items witnessed massive increase last week as compared to the preceding week, reveals a survey conducted by Business Recorder here Saturday. The survey observed that the prices of most of vegetables, fruits, sugar, chicken, eggs, Ramazan-specific drinks and tea registered a massive increase during the week under review.
Traders told Business Recorder that the increase in the prices was temporary and it may continue for a week as at the advent of the Ramazan the demand for different Ramazan-specific items and fruits increase sharply while supply remains constant, due to this prices go up in the first week of Ramazan. They said the trend of high prices of the essential commodities especially fruits and vegetables will continue for a week afterwards the prices will settle down.
Last week Lipton Yellow-Label tea per kg price increased by Rs 50 per pack from Rs 630 to Rs 680, sugar per 50 kg bag price has jumped by Rs 250 per bag from 2,800 per bag to Rs 3,050 per bag, ginger by Rs 100 per kg from Rs 200 per kg to Rs 300 per kg, garlic by Rs 50 per kg from Rs 200 per kg to Rs 250 per kg and basin price one of the highly consumed commodities in Ramadan increased by Rs 25 per kg to Rs 100 per kg.
During the week under review chicken price touched Rs 190 per kg which on Saturday came down to Rs 165 per kg mark in retail market while in wholesale market live chicken is available at Rs 6,000 per 40-kg which during the week even touched Rs 7,000 per 40-kg. Per dozen eggs are being sold at Rs 90 per dozen, normal quality date at Rs 130 per kg and sugar price went up by Rs 5 per kg from Rs 60 per kg to Rs 65 per kg. Beef is available at Rs 400 per kg and mutton at Rs 600 per kg, while there is no change in the prices of entire range of pulses, which two weeks prior to Ramazan were increased by Rs 10 to Rs 25 per kg.
Good quality rice price has reduced by Rs 40 per kg from Rs 160 per kg to Rs 120 per kg, normal quality rice price declined by Rs 30 per kg from Rs 110 per kg to Rs 80 per kg, wheat flour 20-kg bag price reduced from Rs 770 per bag to Rs 750 per bag, pack milk price has also witnessed no change and is available Rs 110 per litre pack.
During the week under review tomatoes prices in wholesales market reduced by Rs 50 per 5 kg from Rs 330 per 5 kg to Rs 280 per 5 kg, while in retail market the commodity is being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 70 per kg last week. Summer specific drinks including Tang, Jame-e-Shireen, Roh Afza, Samarqand, Gulbahar and others price have been increased by Rs 10-15 per bottle from Rs 145-150 per bottle to Rs 160 per bottle. Spinach is being sold at Rs 25 per kg, tinda price increased by Rs 20 per kg from Rs 40 per kg to Rs 60 per kg, carrot at Rs 50 per kg and Radish at Rs 30 per kg.
The prices of onions registered a further reduction of Rs 10 per 5 kg in wholesales market from Rs 240 per 5 kg to Rs 230 per kg, and in retail market the commodity is being sold in the range of Rs 50 per kg against Rs 55 per kg and potatoes prices went up by Rs 30 per 5 kg from Rs 120 per 5 kg to Rs 150 per kg due to increased use in samosa, pakrora and other Iftar related items.
Shimla Mirch (capsicum) price went up by Rs 20 per kg from Rs 60 per kg to Rs 80 per kg, okra with a further reduction of Rs 10 per kg from Rs 60 per kg to Rs 50 per kg and Kareela price reduced by Rs 30 per kg from Rs 60 to Rs 30 per kg, cauliflower price went up by Rs 30 per kg from Rs 40 per kg to Rs 70 per kg and cabbage price reduced by Rs 20 per kg from Rs 50 per kg to Rs 30 per kg. Bean is being sold at Rs 60 per kg, peas with no change in price is available at Rs 100 per kg, chilli went up by Rs 50 per kg from Rs 30 per kg to Rs 80 per kg, Indian lemon at Rs 200 per kg, while local lemon is being sold at Rs 120 per kg.
Grapes are being sold at Rs 300 per kg, melon and watermelon prices have witnessed no change melon being sold at Rs 30 per kg, while watermelon at Rs 20 per kg, good quality local banana price reduced from Rs 120 per dozen to Rs 100 in wholesale market, while in retail market the commodity is available at Rs 120 per dozen, normal quality local banana is being sold at Rs 80 per kg, Indian banana price reduced by Rs 10 per dozen from Rs 160 per dozen to Rs 150 per dozen in retail market which in wholesale market is being traded at Rs 120 per dozen. Mango price registered an increase of Rs 20 per kg to Rs 100 per kg as Sindhari is available at Rs 100 per kg against Rs 80 per kg and Anwar Rathore at Rs 200 per kg against Rs 100 per kg, peach at Rs 160 per kg, cherry is available at Rs 200 per kg and lychee at Rs 220 to Rs 250 per kg in retail market.