Prices of essential kitchen items witnessed a mixed trend during this week past as compared to previous week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday. The survey observed that price of rice witnessed an increase of Rs 10 per kg from Rs 150 to Rs 160 per kg while chicken price registered a reduction from Rs 5,600 to Rs 5,200 per 40kg and eggs' price went up from Rs 72 to Rs 78 per dozen.
The survey noted that mutton was being sold at Rs 1,150 per kg, boneless beef at Rs 550 per kg and beef with bones was available at Rs 500 per kg. Chicken was being sold at Rs 140 against Rs 160 per kg. It was observed that no retailer was following the rate list issued by the District Price Committee Islamabad as the government has fixed onion price at Rs 44 per kg which was being sold at Rs 50 per kg, potatoes were being sold at Rs 35 per kg against government's fixed rate of Rs 29 per kg and garlic at Rs 240 per kg against government's set rate of Rs 189 per kg.
The traders told this correspondent that the district administration is not taking all the factors into account while fixing prices of vegetables, fruits and other items. The traders said that the suppliers of different daily household items such as packed milk, bath soap, juices and cold drinks have intimated them that with the start of July, the prices of the items are likely to go up as a result of rupee depreciation and an expected increase in price of high speed diesel as well as increase in gas and electricity tariffs.
Onions' price went up from Rs 150 to Rs 180 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 50 per kg in the retail market, tomatoes price went down from Rs 150 to Rs 120 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 35 against Rs 40 per kg and potatoes' price remained stable at Rs 125 per kg which were being sold at Rs 35 per kg in the retail market.
Local garlic price went down from Rs 900 to Rs 700 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 240 per kg and ginger price went down from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,100 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 280 against Rs 300 per kg.
Vegetables' prices witnessed a mixed trend as capsicum price went up from Rs 175 to Rs 275 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 75 against Rs 50 per kg; cucumber price went down from Rs 200 to Rs 150 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 50 against Rs 60 per kg; cauliflower price went down from Rs 300 to Rs 200 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 55 against Rs 80 per kg; and cabbage price went up from Rs 200 to Rs 230 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 65 against Rs 60 per kg. Pumpkin price went down from Rs 400 to Rs 175 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 50 against Rs 95-100 per kg in the retail market; tinda price went up from Rs 160 to Rs 200 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 50 against Rs 45 per kg in the retail market; okra price went down from Rs 250 to Rs 200 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 50 against Rs 65 per kg in the retail market; kareela price went up from Rs 200 to Rs 250 per 5kg which are being sold at Rs 60 against Rs 50 per kg in the retail market; peas price went up from Rs 350 to Rs 450 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 110 against Rs 90 per kg in the retail market; and brinjal price went down from Rs 275 to Rs 220 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 55 against Rs 70 per kg in the retail market.
Fine quality white lentil (Maash) was available at Rs 200 per kg while its normal quality was being sold at Rs 160-170 per kg; good quality grams at Rs 200 per kg and normal quality grams at Rs 160 per kg; kidney bean (Lobia) was available in the range of Rs 130-170 per kg; green gram (Moong) at Rs 155 against Rs 140 per kg; and red lentil (Masoor) was available at Rs 160 per kg.
Fruit prices also witnessed a mixed trend as Turkish apple was available at Rs 270 against Rs 300 per kg, Iranian Kala Kolo apple at Rs 185 against Rs 200 per kg, golden apple at Rs 130 against 150 per kg, and Ambri apple price went up from Rs 90 to Rs 110 per kg.
Banana price witnessed a reduction as good quality local banana was being sold at Rs 80 against Rs 150 per dozen while its normal quality was being sold in the range of Rs 60-70 against Rs 75-90 per dozen. Cherry was being sold at Rs 225 against Rs 250 per kg, Langra mango at Rs 110 against Rs 120 per kg, and Sindhari mango was available at Rs 120 against Rs 150 per kg. Various qualities of peaches were available in the range of Rs 100-120 against Rs 120-150 per kg; watermelon at Rs 30-35 per kg; and white melon was being sold in the range of Rs 60-80 per kg.