ISLAMABAD: The sugar price in the wholesale market has witnessed a significant decline from Rs 9,500 per 50kg bag to Rs 7,400, reflecting a decrease of Rs 2,100 per bag or 22.1 percent within the past two weeks, as noted by Business Recorder in its weekly survey.
A month earlier in some parts of the country retail sugar price even touched Rs220 per kg.
Following the government’s serious curbs; however, during past two weeks sugar price in wholesale and retail market is continually witnessing a declining trend which according to traders is likely to settle around Rs7,000 per 50 kg bag mark in wholesale while in retail it is likely to remain in the range of Rs150-160 per kg level.
The survey observed a declining trend in the prices of most essential kitchen items, particularly vegetables and fruits.
The wheat flour price went down from Rs1,910 to Rs1,880 per 15kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs1,920 against Rs1,950 per 15 kg bag.
However, the tandoor owners have kept the price of Roti, Naan, and Paratha unchanged as Roti is being sold at Rs 20, Naan at Rs 23-25, and Paratha at Rs 60. No fluctuation was witnessed in bakery and confectionery item prices as normal-sized bread is available at Rs140, and small-sized bread at Rs100/110.
The survey observed an increase in chicken prices, which went up from Rs 12,000 to Rs 13,400 per 40 kg in the wholesale market, and in retail is being sold at Rs 360-370 against Rs 330-345 per kg, while chicken meat is available in the range of Rs 600-680 against Rs 550-650 per kg, varying area to area.
According to traders, egg prices witnessed an increase in the wholesale market, which went up from Rs 10,400 to Rs 10,500 per carton of 30 dozen, while retailers are selling eggs in the range of Rs 350-370 per dozen.
Mutton and beef prices remained stable as normal quality mutton is available at Rs 2,400 per kg, while the best quality is being sold in the range of Rs 2,700-2,8000 per kg. Normal quality boneless beef is available at Rs 1,500 per kg, and normal mixed beef at Rs 1,300 per kg. Various varieties of fish are available in the range of Rs 600 to Rs 1000per kg.
The survey noted no changes in ghee/ cooking oil prices as B-grade ghee/ oil price remained stable at Rs 6,100 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs 410 per pack of 900 grams, while the best quality cooking oil/ ghee brands such as Dalda ghee price also remained unchanged at Rs 2,845 per 5kg tin which in retail are being sold at Rs 2,900 per 5-litre bottle.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price remained unchanged as official price is fixed at to Rs 210 per kg; however, in retail LPG is being sold at Rs 340-350 per kg and the domestic LGP cylinder of 15 kg is being sold at Rs 4,700 against Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) set price of Rs 3,015 reflecting an overcharging of Rs1,685 per domestic cylinder containing 15 kg.
Officially, the OGRA, on December 1, 2025, has notified an increase of Rs 9 per kg in LPG price for December 2025, increasing the cost of a 15kg domestic LPG cylinder by Rs 135 compared with November, and fixed LPG at Rs 210 against Rs 201 per kg, but the marketing companies, distributors and retailers all are overcharging per domestic cylinder by 1,685 per cylinder and per kg by Rs140-160 as OGRA and other relevant authorities which include which local representatives, Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Tehsildars, Representatives of traders, farmers and retailers aren’t trying to monitor the market situation to enforce the official rates as a result consumers are compelled to pay high rates.
The prices of the various varieties of rice witnessed an increasing trend as the price of the best quality basmati in wholesale market went up from Rs 11,000 to Rs 12,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs 330 against Rs 300 per kg, normal quality Basmati price went up from Rs 10,000 to Rs 10,700 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs 290 against Rs 270 per kg, and good quality broken Basmati price went up from Rs 7,500 to Rs 8,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs 220 against Rs 200 per kg, while normal quality Basmati price went up from Rs 5000-6000 to Rs 5,500-6,5000 per 40kg bag which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs 140-180 against Rs 130-170 per kg.
No changes were witnessed in tea prices, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs 2,200 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs 1,800 per kg; in wholesale market turmeric powder price went down from Rs 800 to Rs 730 per kg which retailers are selling at Rs 1,000 per kg and while red chilli powder price remained stable at Rs 600 per kg which retailers selling at Rs 850 per kg.
The prices of cooked food items remained stable as a dal/ vegetable plate at a normal hotel is available at Rs 320, a beef plate at Rs 550, a chicken plate at Rs 500, mutton at Rs 750, and naan/ roti is being sold at Rs 25/30 and a cup of tea in the range of Rs 70-100 per cup.
No changes were witnessed in the prices of branded spices such as Shan, National, and others, which are available at Rs 150 per 39-gram pack and sachet pack at Rs 70. However, traders told this correspondent that the suppliers are all set to increase the spice prices by Rs 10 per pack within the next few weeks.
Pulse prices remained stable in wholesale market as maash pulse is available at Rs 13,200 per 40kg or Rs 330 per kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs 400-460 per kg, gram pulse price in wholesale market is available at Rs 8,400 per 40 kg or Rs 210 per kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 270 per kg, best quality whole gram pulse wholesale is available at Rs 9,500 which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs 280-Rs 300 per kg while normal gram pulse at Rs 260 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils in the range of Rs 400-500 per kg, moong pulse is available at Rs 400 per kg, and masoor pulse is available at Rs 260 per kg.
Prices of packed milk brands Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others per litre pack remained stable at Rs 3800-4000 per carton, while in retail, 250ml packed milk is being sold at Rs 95 per 250ml, similarly a litre pack at Rs 360 per litre. Fresh milk prices in some parts of the twin cities are being sold at Rs 250 per litre, while in some parts are still being sold at Rs 240 per litre, and the yogurt price is stable at Rs 250 per kg. No changes were observed in the prices of powder milk, such as Nido and Lactogen, as 400-gram Nido powder milk is available at Rs 1,350, and a 200-gram pack at Rs 750 per pack.
Overall, bathing soaps’ prices remained stable as Safeguard is available at Rs 165 per pack, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolives, and others are available at Rs 180 per pack, and detergent prices, such as Ariel Surf, Brite, Express Power, and others, also remained unchanged at Rs 590 per kg pack.
The prices of various brands of cold drinks, such as Pepsi, Coke, Miranda, and others, remained stable as a family-size bottle is available at Rs 230.
Overall vegetable prices witnessed a declining trend as potatoes price further went down from Rs 2,500-4,000 to Rs 1500-2,300 per quintal, while retailers are selling potatoes in the range of Rs 70-100 per kg against government fixed price of Rs 28-36 per kg; onion price in wholesale market went down from Rs 5,200-7,700 to 4,500-6,000 per quintal, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs 75-120 against the government fixed price of Rs 48-80 and tomato prices went down from Rs 650 to Rs 550 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are still being sold in the range of Rs 70-100 against official price of Rs 42-52 per kg.
Ginger price went up from Rs 1,000-1,150 to Rs 1,250-1300 to per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs 400-450 per kg against official set rate of Rs 300-355 per kg, garlic prices went up as local garlic is available at Rs 650 against Rs 600 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 200-230 against official rate of Rs 175-185 per kg, Quetta garlic price remained stable at Rs 1,200 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 265-290 per kg and China garlic price went up from Rs 1,500 to Rs1,650 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs 400-425 per kg; however, the government has fixed China garlic rate at 370-400 per kg, while majority of vendors are selling local garlic in the name of China/Quetta to maximize their profits.
Capsicum price went further down from Rs 500 to Rs400 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs 130-150 against Rs 150-160 while official price is fixed at Rs 95-105 per kg, prices of various varieties of pumpkins went down from Rs 200-575 to Rs 180-350 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs 55-120 against Rs 65-140 per kg while government fixed price range of Rs 40-95 per kg; prices of various types of tinda went down from Rs 350-500 to Rs 300-400 per 5 kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs 120-175 per kg while government has fixed rates of Rs 80-99 per kg; eggplant price went down from Rs 250 to Rs 220 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs 75-90 against Rs 80-100 while official rates are fixed at Rs 55-60 per kg; cauliflower price went up from Rs 100 to Rs 120 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs 50-70 against officially fixed of Rs 36-40 per kg and cabbage price went down from Rs 450 to Rs 300 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 100-120 against Rs 150-170 while official fixed price is Rs 82-95 per kg, fresh bean price went down from Rs 350 per 5 kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs 120-130 against Rs 150-200 while official rate is fixed at Rs 88-99 per kg, peas price went down from Rs 500 to Rs 350 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs 120-150 against Rs 150-200 per kg while official rate is fixed at Rs 82-90 per kg.
The official rate list is issued after close collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders with giving a profit margin of Rs 10 per kg to the sellers around the wholesale market, Rs 15-25 per kg profit margin to most parts of the capital city, and Rs 20-40 profit margin for the sellers in posh areas. But still, no vendor, pushcart holder, or shopkeeper is following the official price list.
Fruit prices remained stable trend as bananas are available in the range of Rs 75-140 per dozen, various varieties of apples in the range Rs 100-400 per kg, with white apples at Rs 100 per kg cheapest and Kalakilo apple at Rs 400 per kg, guava in the range of Rs 90-1150 per kg, various varieties of oranges in the range of Rs 120-250 per dozen, various varieties of grapes in the range of Rs 220-450 per kg and pomegranates in the range of Rs 600-800.
People have urged the authorities to either enforce an official price list or stop doing such an exercise, which has no benefit to the masses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
