LAHORE: Change of weather in the Punjab capital has increased demand of dry fruit, resulting rise in their prices.

Be it almonds, pistachios, walnuts, dates, cashew nuts, peanuts, coconuts or dried apricots and figs, rates of the favourite winter munch have taken flight.

With sky-rocketing prices, dry fruit have practically gone out of reach of many people.

Dealers in Akbari Mandi say abnormality in supply and demand, was the root cause of hike in dry fruit prices.

A random survey of most city markets, prices of American Almond are between Rs 1250 to Rs 1450 per kg this year.

However, retailers are selling the high-quality variety for Rs 1600 per kg. Chilgoza is selling for Rs 3650 a kilogram this year as against Rs 2500 per kg last year, with traders blaming thin supplies from Afghanistan and tribal areas where crop output is lower than the last year. Cashew nut (kaju) prices have climbed to Rs 1850 per kg compared to Rs 1400 a year ago.

Peanuts are available for Rs 10,000 per maund compared to Rs 7500 a year earlier. Apricot (khubani) prices have also doubled to Rs 1200 per kg from Rs 700 last year. Salted pistachios (pista) are available at Rs 1400 per kg in the wholesale market, but retailers are selling for Rs 1700 per kg from the end users.

Peeled pistachios are available at Rs 1900 per kg. Walnut is available at Rs 800 per kg, showing no change in its price as compared to the last year. Dried dates at Rs 200 to Rs 600 per kg.

Retailers said, they got these fruits at high rates from wholesalers. However, with fall of temperature in city demand for dry fruits had sharply increased and prices had also shot up due to high demand.

A dry fruit seller at Beadon Road, said legal imports are thriving following a slowdown in arrivals through illegal channels and smuggling after strict border checks.

Dried-fruit prices are even higher at superstores as they sell them in attractive packaging. For example, chilgoza is available at Rs 4000 per kg at such stores.

Consumers complained that there was no check and balance of any commodity in wholesale market. They urged the administration concerned to take action against those dry fruit sellers involved in overcharging and selling dry fruit at exorbitant rates.