A sharp increase in prices of most of essential food commodities, including pulses, vegetables, meat, sugar, is being witnessed ahead of the 'Eid-ul-Fitr'. According to survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Sunday, prices of daily use items have gone up by 70% to 90% in retail market. Buyers in the KP's provincial capital expressed grave concern over sudden price-hike, and blamed the authorities concerned for not taking any action against the profiteers and hoarders.
Big (Kabuli) white Chana is now available at Rs 200 per kilogram as compared to Rs 120 per kg in the preceding week, while price of Dal mash also increased from Rs 240 to Rs 300 per kg now, according to the survey.
Amid increasing demand, prices of one-kilogram sugar has gone up from Rs 64 per kg to Rs 68 for the same weight while 1 kg gram flour (baisin) has is now available at Rs 165 per kg as compared to Rs 150 during last week. Similarly, Dal green is being sold at Rs 160 per kg, white lobiya Rs 110 per kg, moong at Rs 160 per kg, Red bean at Rs 120 per kg.
According to the BR survey, prices of all brands and quality of cooking oil/ghee still remain on high side as these are available in within the ranges from Rs 155 to Rs 160, Rs 170 and Rs 180 per litre in retail.
The survey also noticed a sharp increase in prices of vegetable in wholesale and retail market, as 1kg tomato has gone up from Rs 40 to between Rs 70 and Rs 80 per kg, while onion is being sold at between Rs 50 and Rs 60 per kg. Ginger being sold at Rs 120 per kg, garlic at Rs 160 per kg, lemon at Rs 120 per kg.
One kilogram peas is being available at Rs 150 per kilogram, arvi at Rs 70 per kg, capsicum at Rs 80 per kg, cabbage at Rs 80 per kg, cauliflower at Rs 90 per kg, ladyfinger at Rs 40 per kg, potato at Rs 50 and Rs 70 per kg.
The buyers have complained that the shopkeepers have fixed exorbitant rates in retail market violating the official prices list.
"Authorities remain reluctant to take notice against the artificial rise in prices of important food items," Muhammad Tariq, a consumer said, while buying ladyfinger in local vegetable market here.
Since the beginning of holy month of Ramazan, the prices of fruit have gone sky-high due to inaction by the authorities concerned. Apple is being sold between Rs 120 and Rs 150 per kilogram, mango available at Rs 100 and Rs 120 per kg, melon at Rs 30 per kg, banana at Rs 100 per dozen, water melon at Rs 100 and Rs 120 per piece.
Butchers have also sharpened their knives and now charging desired price of meat, as one-kilogram cow meat is being sold at Rs 400 against Rs 320 during preceding week. However, the authorities have fixed price of meat at Rs 240 per kg, but it failed to implement it. Similarly, mutton is being sold at Rs 650 and Rs 700 per kg.
According to survey, the price of flour has also continued to surge up since the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan, as a 20 Kg bag of mix flour available at Rs 720, while bag of fine atta, weighting 20-kg being sold at Rs 780 and Rs 800 in retail.
Fresh milk is being sold at Rs 90 and Rs 100 per litre, yogurt at Rs 100 per kg, while price of milk powder of various brands and quality has also soared in the retail market.