Prices of the essential kitchen items, especially of fruit and vegetables, have witnessed an increase during the last week past as compared with the preceding week, a survey carried out by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday. The survey observed that on the eve of Ramazan, prices of tomatoes, potatoes, onions and other vegetables went up as a 15-kg box of tomatoes went up from Rs 400 to Rs 550, onions from Rs 2,500 per quintal to Rs 2,700 per quintal, while potatoes went up from Rs 3,300 per quintal to Rs 3,500 per quintal.
Tomatoes are being sold at Rs 200 per 5-kg against Rs 140 per 5-kg, potatoes at Rs 200 per 5-kg against Rs 175 per 5-kg and onions at Rs 150 per 5-kg against Rs 120 per 5-kg. In retail market, potatoes are being sold in the range of Rs 45-50 per kg against Rs 40-45 per kg; onions at Rs 35 per kg against Rs 25 per kg and tomatoes at Rs 50 per kg against Rs 30-35 per kg. Ginger price went up from Rs 500 per 5-kg to Rs 550 per 5-kg which in retail market is being sold at Rs 130 per kg against Rs 120 per kg, local garlic price went up from Rs 450 per 5-kg to Rs 550 per 5-kg, while China garlic from Rs 750 per 5-kg to Rs 800 per 5-kg and best quality Quetta garlic from Rs 700 to Rs 800 per 5-kg. In retail market local garlic is being sold at Rs 130 per kg against Rs 120 per kg, China garlic at Rs 200 per kg against Rs 175 per kg and Quetta garlic at Rs 200 per kg.
Traders talking to Business Recorder said that the hike in vegetable and fruit prices is artificial and within next few days the prices will normalise. The survey observed that the prices of Ramazan specific items like dates, baisan and others have also witnessed an increase as normal quality dates are available at Rs 250 per kg against Rs 150-180 per kg, while baisan at Rs 160 per kg against Rs 145-150 per kg.
The price of lemon went up from Rs 900 per 5-kg to Rs 1,000 per 5-kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 250 per kg against Rs 225 per kg. Brinjal price went down from Rs 150 per 5-kg to Rs 100 per 5-kg in wholesales market which in retail is available in the range of Rs 25-30 per kg against Rs 40-45 per kg. Cucumber price remained stable at Rs 120 per 5-kg which in retail market is being sold at Rs 30-35 per kg.
Okra price remained stable at Rs 170 per 5-kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 45 per kg; peas at Rs 300 per 5-kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 70 per kg; tinda price went up at Rs 160, which in retail is being sold at Rs 35-40 per kg; maro kadu went up from Rs 75 per 5-kg to Rs 100 per 5-kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 25 per kg, and kadu price remained stable at Rs 150 per 5-kg which is being sold at Rs 40 per kg. Kareela price also remained stable at Rs 160 per 5-kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 45 per kg and tori was found stable at Rs 200 per 5-kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 50 per kg.
Cauliflower price further went down from Rs 250 per 5-kg to Rs 200 per 5-kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 55 per kg and cabbage price remained stable at Rs 80 per 5-kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 20-22 per kg. Capsicum price remained stable at Rs 200 per 5-kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 45-50 per kg, beans price went up from Rs 200 per 5-kg to Rs 250 per 5-kg, which in retail market are being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 45-50 per kg.
During the week under review, chicken prices remained stable at Rs 5,400 per 40-kg, while in retail market live chicken is available in the range of Rs 150-155 per kg and chicken meat at Rs 260 per kg. Egg prices remained stable at Rs 72 per dozen which in retail are being sold at Rs 84 per dozen. Sugar price remained stable at Rs 2,800 per 50-kg bag, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 63 per kg. There was no change in wheat flour price as a bag of 20-kg normal quality wheat flour was available at Rs 750, while good quality at Rs 780 per 20-kg bag.
Good quality fresh milk is available at Rs 100 per litre while normal at Rs 85 per litre and fresh yogurt is being sold at Rs 100-120 per kg. Prices of all the major pulses were found stable as Maash is being sold at Rs 160 per kg, Channa at Rs 170 per kg, Lobia at Rs 100-120 per kg, Moong at Rs 120 per kg and Masoor at Rs 110 per kg, while the rice prices were also found stable as best quality Basmati rice was available at Rs 120 per kg and normal quality rice at Rs 70 per kg.
During the week under review, the prices of most of the fruit went up as melon is available at Rs 60 per kg, cherry at Rs 350 per kg and loquat at Rs 120 per kg, local best quality banana at Rs 120 per dozen and normal quality banana was available in the range of Rs 80-100 per dozen. Watermelon price went up from Rs 15 per kg to Rs 20, best quality Chinese apple from Rs 210 per kg to Rs 250 per kg, Kala Kolu apple Iranian was available at Rs 200 per kg against 175 per kg, golden apple at Rs 150 per kg against Rs 120 per kg and normal quality ambri apple at Rs 100 per kg against Rs 70 per kg. Best quality guava was available at Rs 80 per kg, while normal quality was available in the range of Rs 50-70 per kg, China pear at Rs 150 per kg and strawberry was available at Rs 220 per kg. New arrival best quality Sindhari mango was being sold at Rs 100 per kg, normal quality at Rs 80 per kg while Desi mango at Rs 60 per kg, and best quality plumb was available at Rs 120 per kg while normal quality plumb at Rs 90 per kg.