ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed an increasing trend during this week past against the previous week, revealed a survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Saturday.
The survey observed a reduction in chicken prices from Rs16,800 to Rs15,200 per 40kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs410 against Rs450 per kg and chicken meat price reduced down from Rs700 to Rs630 per kg. Eggs’ price went up from Rs8,000 to Rs8,600 per carton of 30 dozen which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs310-315 against Rs290-300 per dozen. Sugar price is stable at Rs8,550 per 50 kg bag in the wholesale market, while in retail it is being sold at Rs180 per kg.
Mutton and beef prices remained stable as normal quality mutton was available at Rs2,200 per kg, normal quality boneless beef at Rs1,400 per kg, and normal beef at Rs1,100 per kg. Various varieties of fishes are available in the range of Rs500 to Rs900 per kg.
Wheat flour prices remained stable as the best quality wheat flour ex-mill per 15kg bag is available at Rs1,100 which in retail is being sold at Rs1,150 per 15kg bag and normal quality wheat flour per 15kg bag is available at Rs1,020 which in retail is being sold at Rs1,070 per bag.
After a significant reduction of Rs1,400 per 15 kg bag in wheat flour price over the past one year the tandoor owners in some parts of the twin cities started reducing the roti, naan and paratha prices as in some parts of the federal capital roti is available at Rs16 against Rs20, naan at Rs20 against Rs25 and paratha at Rs45 against Rs50.
However, the bakers have not reduced the biscuit, bread and confectionery prices, which they had increased manifold after 2020 coronavirus crisis, citing increase in ghee/cooking oil, and wheat flour prices. The prices of cooked food items remained stable as a cooked daal/vegetable plate at a normal hotel is available at Rs320, cooked beef plate at Rs550, cooked chicken plate at Rs500, cooked mutton at Rs750 and naan/roti is being sold at Rs25/30.
No changes were witnessed in tea prices, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs2,200 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs1,800 per kg; normal quality turmeric powder is available at Rs600 against Rs700 per kg and normal quality red chilli powder at Rs900 against Rs700 per kg.
Traders told this correspondent every year prior to the annual budget suppliers of various household items used to hoard stocks like cold drinks, milk and cigarettes but this year as yet no artificial shortage has been created in the market. They said that only cigarette manufacturers have increased the prices of their products as Capstan price jumped up from Rs240 to Rs250 per pack.
No significant changes were witnessed in pulses prices as maash is available at Rs440 per kg, gram pulse at Rs300 per kg, whole gram pulse at Rs270 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils in the range of Rs450-550 per kg, moong price at Rs400 per kg, and masoor pulse at Rs280 per kg.
The prices of branded spices such as Shan, National, and others, also remained stable as a pack of 39 grams of spice is available at Rs140. The prices of the various varieties of rice remained stable as the best quality basmati in wholesale market is available at Rs12,800 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs350 per kg, normal quality Basmati at Rs11,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs310 per kg, and broken Basmati at Rs8,500 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs235 per kg.
Ghee/cooking oil prices remained stable as B-grade ghee/oil is available at Rs6,000 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs460 per pack of 900 grams, while best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee price remained stable at Rs2,720 per 5kg tin and cooking at Rs2,720 per 5 litre bottle.
Prices of packed milk brands such as Milk Pak and Olpers in the wholesale market remained stable at Rs2,250 per carton while in retail 250ml packed milk is being sold at Rs90. Fresh milk prices in some parts of the twin cities are being sold at Rs220 per kg while in some parts is still being sold at Rs230 per kg and yogurt price is stable at Rs250 per kg. No changes were observed in the prices of powder milk such as Nido and Lactogen as 400gram Nido powder milk is available at Rs1,320 and 200gram pack at Rs700 per pack.
Bathing soap prices remained stable as family-size Safeguard and Dettol like soaps are available at Rs165 per pack, family size Lux at Rs150, and detergent prices went slightly up as Ariel Surf, Brite, Express Power and others are available at Rs570 against Rs550 per kg pack. The prices of various brands of cold drinks such as Pepsi, Coke, Miranda and others remained stable as family-size bottle is available at Rs230.
Officially the OGRA has fixed the price of LPG at Rs245.20 per kg, while retailers are selling 15kg domestic LPG cylinder at Rs4,100 against Rs3,690 OGRA fixed price reflecting an overcharging of Rs410 per cylinder. Moreover, the retailers through decanting are selling the LPG on further escalated rates as they charge Rs300-330 per kg, reflecting an overcharging of Rs55-85 per kg.
Overall vegetable and fruit prices witnessed an increasing trend as potatoes in wholesales market went up from Rs1,800-3,500 to Rs2,300-4,000 per quintal, while in retail potatoes are being sold in the range of Rs50-65 against Rs45-60 per kg; onion price in wholesales market went down from Rs1,700-3,000 Rs1,500-2,500 per quintal, in retail onions are being sold in the range of Rs30-45 per kg and tomato price is stable at Rs250 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs30-40 per kg. Ginger price is stable at Rs2,200 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs525-550 per kg, local garlic price is stable at Rs400 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs160 per kg, China garlic price is also stable Rs1,150 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs300-320 per kg.
Capsicum price is stable went up from Rs250 to Rs550 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs140-150 against Rs60-75 per kg, prices of various varieties of pumpkins went up from Rs100-200 to Rs200-375 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs55-100 against Rs35-60 per kg; various types of tinda prices went down from Rs150-400 to Rs100-300 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs40-80 against Rs50-110 per kg; eggplant price went up from Rs275 to Rs325 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs80-90 against Rs70-75 per kg; cauliflower price went up from Rs450 to Rs500 per 5kg in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs120-140 against Rs100-110 per kg and cabbage price went up from Rs100 to Rs150 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs50-60 against Rs40-50 per kg.
Okra price went down from Rs500 to Rs300 per 5kg in wholesale market which in retail is being sold at Rs80-90 against Rs130-140 per kg, Bitter gourd price went down from Rs300 to Rs250 per 5kg which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs65-75 against Rs80-90 per kg, green chilli price is stable at Rs250-350 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs90-100 per kg, beetroot price went down from Rs250 to Rs200 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs55-60 against Rs70-75 per kg, local carrot price went down from Rs200 to Rs150 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs50-55 per kg and China carrot price is stable at Rs200 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs60-70 per kg and cucumber price is stable at Rs170 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs50-55 per kg.
Fresh bean price is stable at Rs500 per 5kg which in retail are being sold at Rs120-140 per kg, yam price went up from Rs750 to Rs900 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs220-230 against Rs180-200 per kg; turnip price went down from Rs175 to Rs150 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs50-55 per kg; peas price went up from Rs750 to Rs1,000 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs230-240 against Rs180-200 per kg; radish price went up from Rs75 to Rs100 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs35-45 against Rs30-35 per kg, spinach is available at Rs150 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs15-20 per bundle of 200 grams and coriander is available at Rs250 per 5kg in wholesales market which in retail is being sold at Rs30-35 per bundle of 250 grams.
Fruit prices witnessed an upward trend as various types of local apples are available in the range of Rs140-400 against Rs130-350 per kg guava price went up from Rs110-150 to Rs150-200 per kg. Bananas prices went up from Rs90-200 to Rs100-220 per dozen. Various varieties of melons are being sold in the range of Rs40-120 against per kg; Chikoo at Rs250-275 per kg, papaya at Rs320-350 against Rs250-280 per kg and lokat at Rs200-230 against Rs160-180 per kg. New arrival mangoes in the range of Rs150-250 per kg, cherry in the range of Rs600-750 per kg, falsa in the range of Rs350-400 per kg, peach in the range of Rs150-250 per kg, apricot in the range of Rs175-300 per kg.
Business Recorder has noted a significant difference between the wholesale market prices, official prices fixed by market committees which consist of commissioners, Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Assistant Commissioners (ACs), the special price control magistrates, representatives of wholesalers, retailers and general public. One vendor was selling bananas in the range of Rs90-200 per dozen and another at Rs120-250 per kg of same quality while the official price is Rs90-220 per kg; mutton on some shops was available at Rs2,200 per kg and same quality of mutton was being sold at Rs2,400 per kg at others; wheat flour was available at Rs1,130 per 15kg bag on one shop and another shopkeeper was selling the same quality of the commodity at Rs1,170. They urged the government to strictly enforce the official price list daily and weekly and prepare it in consultation with the respective traders’ unions and punish the violators.
Business Recorder has observed and repeatedly reported that retailers, vendors, and other sellers are not displaying official price lists of household items at a prominent place and are not even providing on demand, which they are legally bound to provide the consumers and display at a prominent place.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
