Prices of wheat flour, sugar, pulses, eggs and chicken have witnessed an increasing trend during past week compared with the preceding week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday.
The survey observed an increase of Rs220 per 20kg bag of wheat flour, Rs160 increase in 50kg bag of sugar, live chicken wholesale price increased by Rs500 per 40kg, egg price went up from Rs84 per dozen to Rs88 per dozen in the wholesale market.
During the week under review, prices of most of the pulses went up as moong is being sold at Rs290 per kg against Rs260 per kg, best quality lobia went up from Rs270 per kg to Rs280 per kg, maash is being sold at Rs250-260 per kg, masoor went up from Rs150 per kg to Rs160 per kg, chana went up from Rs140 per kg to Rs150 per kg.
Sugar price during the week under review went up from Rs3,800 per 50kg bag to Rs3,960 per 50kg bag, and wholesale wheat flour prices went up from Rs760 per 20kg bag to Rs980 per 20kg bag.
In retail, sugar is being sold at Rs85 per kg against Rs82 and wheat flour in retail is being sold at Rs1,000 per 20 kg bag, while per kg wheat flour is available at Rs65 against Rs55 per kg.
People also told this correspondent that despite the government's provision of multi-billion-rupee subsidy to the Utility Stores Corporation to sell sugar, ghee, cooking oil, pulses and other items to the people at subsidized rate, most of the Utility Stores remained short of stocks.
No changes were observed in rice prices, as best quality Basmati rice is available at Rs165 per kg, while broken best quality basmati rice is available at Rs100 per kg.
Moreover, no changes were witnessed in ghee/cooking oil, tea, spices, powder milk, salt, chili, turmeric and other items.
Egg prices went up from Rs84 in wholesale to Rs88 per dozen, which in retail is being sold at Rs95 per dozen.
Lemon price has witnessed an increase from Rs1,000 per 5 kg to Rs1,200 per 5 kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs270 per kg against Rs250 per kg.
Chicken price went up from Rs6,200 per 40kg to Rs6,700 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs210-220 per kg against Rs190 per kg, while chicken meat is available at Rs350 per kg against Rs280 per kg.
After the coronavirus outbreak the district administrations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have left the masses on the mercy of profiteers as every fruit and vegetable vendor seems free to charge rates of choice.
During the week, vegetable prices witnessed a mixed trend as price of onions went down from Rs175 per 5kg to Rs150 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs40 per kg against Rs45 per kg.
Tomato price went down from Rs130 per 5kg to Rs120 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs30 per kg against Rs35 per kg.
Potato price went up from Rs250 per 5kg to Rs300 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs70 per kg against Rs60 per kg.
Garlic price went up from Rs1,000 per 5kg to Rs1,100 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs175 per kg against Rs250 per kg, and ginger price went up from Rs1,150 per 5kg to Rs1,500 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs400 per kg against Rs300 per kg.
Overall fruit prices witnessed a declining trend as best quality white apple price went down from Rs200 per kg to Rs150 per kg, while normal is available in the range of Rs100-130 per kg against Rs150-170 per kg. Pakistan Kalakilo apple price went down from Rs225 per kg to Rs200 per kg, Iranian Kalakilo apple price went down from Rs250 per kg to Rs220 per kg, and golden apple price went down from Rs175 per kg to Rs130 per kg.
Good quality banana is being sold at Rs150 per dozen, while normal quality at Rs100 per dozen.
Various qualities of melons are available in the range of Rs40-100 per kg, various qualities of peach in the range of Rs100-175 per kg.
Mangoes are available at Rs90 per kg, cherry at Rs300 per kg, and falsa at Rs250 per kg.