Prices of important kitchen items, including pulses, vegetable, fruits, chicken, eggs, sugar, have slightly decreased in retail market, according to survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Sunday. A five-kilogram onion being sold at Rs 120 which was selling at Rs 150 in preceding week as compared to last week, while a five-kg tomato is available at Rs 150 against Rs 170 per kilogram, the survey noticed.
Ginger priced at Rs 160 per kilogram, while garlic is still costlier, as available at Rs 200-240 per kilogram. A one-kilogram potato is being sold at Rs 40, arvi at Rs 80 per kilogram. Price of one-kilogram peas is still sky-high in retail market as being available at Rs 70 per kg, while ladyfinger priced at Rs 40 per kilogram. Cucumber is being sold at Rs 30, which was selling at Rs 40 per kilogram during preceding week.
Likewise, turnip is being sold at Rs 30 per kilogram. Cauliflower is available at Rs 40 per kilogram, while price of one-kilogram lemon has gone down to Rs 150 from Rs 200 in retail market.
The survey witnessed that the prices of pulses have remained high as no significant change or decrease was recorded during the preceding week as compared to last week. A one-kilogram good quality sela rice is being sold at Rs 110 which was selling at Rs 120 per kg in preceding week, while toota rice is being sold at Rs 50 per kg. One-kilogram Dal Channa is available at Rs 120 in retail market, while big white kabali channa is being sold at Rs 190 per kilogram, the survey said. Likewise, it was noticed that high-quality Dal masoor priced at Rs 100 per kg. Dal mash is also expensive as 49-kg bag being sold at Rs 180 per kilogram in retail market.
The survey noticed a slight decrease in price of sugar, as available at Rs 55 per kilogram, which was selling at Rs 60 per kilogram in retail market. Price of gram flour (baisen) has risen sharply, as being sold at Rs 140 per kilogram in retail market, which was selling at Rs 100 per kg a few days back. Dal chilka green priced at Rs 118 per kg, red bean being sold at Rs 150 and Rs 180 per kg, while white lobiya is being available at Rs 120 per kg, and totta rice, being sold at Rs 50 per kg.
The survey witnessed that prices of cooking oil/ghee with different quality and range remained at high-side both in wholesale and retail markets, as no significant increase or change was witnessed during last week, as compared to preceding week. In the provincial capital Peshawar, the survey noticed that price of fresh milk is sky-high, as vendors and shopkeepers continue to squeeze the buyers by selling fresh milk at Rs 100 and Rs 120 per litre, against the official fixed price of Rs 70 and Rs 80 per litre.
The consumers have complained that vendors have recovered the fine imposed by administration on them against overcharging, by selling fresh milk at manifold rates. They viewed that the local administration was helpless to take action against profiteers in the provincial capital.
A senior official of district administration said that authorities have randomly taken action against the profiteers, adulterers and hoarders in various localities of Peshawar. He asked the people to register complain with administration regarding selling of essential commodities on high-rates.
The fruit is staple food, which is available at sky-high rate in retail market. A dozen of banana is being sold at Rs 100, mango at Rs 120-150 per kilogram, apricot at Rs 160 per kg, melon at Rs 40 per kg, water melon at Rs 50 per kg. Prices of chicken meat are stabled in retail market, as available at Rs 141 per kilogram, good weight chicken is being sold at Rs 250 and low weight at Rs 220, while dozen of egg is being sold at Rs 85 in retail market.