A manifold increase in prices of essential food commodities, including live chicken/meat, gram flour (baisen) vegetable, pulses, fruits, dates, flour, beverages, ghee/cooking oil and others was witnessed in here retail market since advent of Ramazan, said in a survey carried out by Business Recorder on Sunday.

It was noticed that prices of live chicken/meat had gone up at Rs168 per kilogram, which was selling at Rs146 per kg before start of the Ramazan. A dozen of farm eggs are being sold at Rs120-130. Price of gram flour, which is most use item in the holy month, touched new peak as available at Rs200-220 per kilogram in local market.

According the survey, dates were available within range of Rs250-280 and Rs300-350 per kilogram. Prices of almost all brand beverages increased sharply due to high demand in Ramazan. Similarly, price of lemon dearer in local market as it was available at Rs500-600 per kilogram. Fruit which is staple food, also completely reached out from purchasing power of common man as a substantial increase was witnessed in prices of almost all fruits. For instance, banana is being sold at Rs120-150 per dozen which was selling at Rs60-70 per dozen before start of Ramazan. Apple is being available at Rs300 per kilogram, orange at Rs200 per kilogram, strawberry at Rs300 per kilogram, guava at Rs150-200 per kilogram, water melon at Rs100-150 per piece, melon was available at Rs100 per kilogram against the price of Rs60 per kilogram a few days back.

A 20-kg flour bag is being sold at Rs1000, 1050 and Rs1100 while in retail market Flour is being sold at R65 per kilogram which was selling at Rs50-55 per kilogram before start of Ramazan. Maida is being sold at Rs65 per kilogram which was selling at Rs45 per kilogram a few days back.

Rs10 to 30 per kilogram increase was witnessed in prices of pulses, the survey noticed. For instance, good quality rice (sela) was available at Rs170 per kilogram which was selling at Rs150 per kilogram. Toota rice is being sold at Rs70-80 per kilogram. Dal mash is being sold at Rs280 per kilogram against the price of Rs240 per kilogram, dal masoor at Rs160 per kg against the price of Rs140 per kg, white lobiya at Rs180 per kg against the price of Rs140 per kg.

Likewise, the survey further noticed Big-size white channa was available at Rs160 per kg against the price of Rs140 per kg while small-size white channa is being sold at Rs100 per kg against the price of Rs80 per kg in previous week. Dal channa is being sold at Rs180 per kg against the price of Rs160 per kg.

A manifold increase in price of Red bean is witnessed as available at Rs240-220 per kg against the price of Rs160 per kg. Dhoti dal is being sold at Rs260 per kg against the price of Rs220 per kg. Dal chilka (black) is being sold at Rs260 per kg which was selling at Rs180 per kg, while dal chilka (green) was available at Rs220 per kg against the price of Rs160 per kg. Malka masoor is being sold at Rs160 per kg against the price of Rs100 per kg. Moonge is being sold at Rs200 per kg against the price of Rs160 per kg.

Prices of vegetable, especially those which were using in kitchen on daily basis, like garlic, ginger, onion, tomato etc remained unchanged. For instance, garlic is being available at Rs350 per kg against the price Rs280 per kg in the previous week.

Similarly, a sharp rise in price of ginger was witnessed in local market, as available at Rs450 per kg against the price of Rs380 per kg. Rs30 per kg in price of onion increase was noticed in retail market as being sold at Rs100 per kg against the price of Rs70 per kg in the previous week.

However, the price of tomato is remained stable in market which is being available at Rs30-40 per kg. Green chili is being sold at Rs150 per kg Lemon was available at Rs120 per kg. Cucumber priced at Rs40 per kg against rate of Rs30 per kg in the previous week.

According to the survey, Arvi is being sold at Rs150 per kg, which was selling at Rs120 per kg in the previous week. Capsicum priced at Rs120 per kg, while peas was available at Rs120-Rs130 per kg against the price of Rs80 per kg in the previous week. Ladyfinger is being sold at Rs120-130 per kg.

Cabbage is being sold at Rs70 per kg against the prices of Rs50 per kg in the previous week while cauliflower was available at Rs50 per kg.