ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed an increasing trend during the past week against the previous week, revealed a survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Saturday.
The survey also observed that the government has completely failed to ensure the availability of sugar in the market at the official rate of Rs172 per kg, as most of the shopkeepers are selling the commodity at Rs200-210 per kg. Traders told this correspondent they are getting sugar at Rs 9,050 per 50kg bag and selling it at Rs200 per kg.
Wheat flour prices have witnessed an increase as the best quality wheat flour ex-mill per 15kg bag price went up from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,300, which in retail is being sold at Rs 1,350 against Rs 1,150 per 15kg bag, and normal quality wheat flour per 15kg bag price went up from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,250, which in retail is being sold at Rs 1,300 per bag. Roti, Naan, and Paratha prices remained stable as in some parts of the federal capital Roti is available at Rs16 and in some parts at Rs20, Naan at Rs20-25, and Paratha at Rs45. However, the Quetta restaurant chain hasn’t reduced Paratha prices and is selling at the highest rate of Rs60 per Paratha.
No fluctuation was witnessed in bakery and confectionery item prices as normal-size bread is available at Rs140 and small-size at Rs100. The prices of cooked food items remained stable as a cooked dal/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.
A slight reduction in chicken prices was observed as it went down from Rs 17,200 to Rs 17,000 per 40kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs445 against Rs450 per kg, and chicken meat is being sold in the range of Rs700-750 per kg. Egg prices went up from Rs 8,300 to Rs 8,500 per carton of 30 dozen, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs300-310 against Rs290-300 per dozen.
Mutton and beef prices remained stable as normal quality mutton was available at Rs 2,200 per kg, normal quality boneless beef at Rs 1,400 per kg, and normal beef at Rs 1,100 per kg. Various varieties of fish are available in the range of Rs500 to Rs900 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. Normal quality turmeric powder price in wholesale went down from Rs650 to Rs550 per kg, which retailers are selling at Rs800 per kg, and normal quality red chilli powder price is also reduced to Rs550 per kg, which retailers are selling at Rs800 per kg. Pulse prices witnessed an increase as maash pulse is available at Rs500 per kg, gram pulse at Rs300 against Rs270 per kg, whole gram pulse at Rs300 against Rs250 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils in the range of Rs430-520 against Rs400-500 per kg, moong pulse at Rs350 against Rs380 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 the wholesale market is available at Rs 13,500 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs380 per kg, normal quality Basmati at Rs 12,500 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs350 per kg, and broken Basmati at Rs 9,300 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs260 per kg.
Ghee/cooking oil prices witnessed a mixed trend as B-grade ghee/oil is available at Rs6,500 against Rs6,300 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs420 per pack of 900 grams, while best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee in the wholesale market are available at Rs2,680 against Rs2,750 per 5kg tin, which in retail are being sold at Rs2,800 against Rs2,850 per 5-litre bottle.
Prices of packed milk brands Milk-Pak, Olpers, and others remained stable at Rs2,350 per carton, while in retail 250ml packed milk is being sold at Rs95 per 250ml, and similarly a litre pack at Rs370 per litre. Fresh milk prices in some parts of the twin cities are being sold at Rs220 per kg, while in some parts it 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 powdered milk such as Nido and Lactogen, as a 400 gram Nido powdered milk is available at Rs 1,320 and a 200 gram pack at Rs700 per pack.
Bathing soap prices remained stable as family-size Safeguard is available at Rs160 per pack, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolive, and others are available at Rs150 per pack. Detergent prices went down as Ariel Surf, Brite, Express Power, and others are available at Rs530 against Rs570 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 Rs230.
Officially, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has fixed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at Rs233 per kg, while retailers are still selling a 15kg domestic LPG cylinder at Rs 4,000 against the Rs 3,495 OGRA fixed price, reflecting an overcharging of Rs505 per cylinder. Moreover, the retailers through decanting are selling the LPG at further escalated rates as they charge Rs300-330 per kg, reflecting an overcharging of Rs67-92 per kg.
LPG traders and distributors have blamed the marketing companies for higher prices, saying the companies are supplying them the commodity at higher prices. As a result, retailers are left with no option other than shifting the price to the end consumers.
According to LPG traders, the LPG marketing companies and distributors are earning billions of rupees profit by overcharging the consumers, while the OGRA, which totally depends on district administration including police, has totally ignored the enforcement of official commodity rates. Moreover, LPG distributors and retailers are freely selling LPG by decanting in violation of the laws, as a result of which every other day LPG cylinder blasts are claiming precious lives.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
