April 2, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 29, 1424

KARACHI, April 1: Consumers paid last month higher prices for loose milk, curd, milk powder, beef and poultry products. Whereas, the prices of greens, pulses, rice, sugar and flour had either remained intact to old levels or have fallen in the markets.

Loose milk prices rose by Re1 per litre to Rs23 from Rs22 while the retailers were charging Rs32 for curd as against Rs30 per kg.

Price of Nido milk powder 1-kg pack also rose by Rs8 to Rs207 from Rs199 while Everyday 1-kg pack price increased to Rs199 from Rs195.

Persistent animal shortage and export of live animals had again flared up beef (bachia) rates by Rs5-10 per kg. Meat sellers were charging Rs110 per kg for bachia meat (boneless) as compared to Rs100 per kg, while meat with bones was now being retailed at Rs85 per kg as against Rs80 per kg.

Similarly, the price of meat without bones (big cow) was being sold at Rs100 per kg as compared to Rs90 per kg. The rates of meat with bones were being charged at Rs80 per kg from Rs75 per kg.

A price survey (from March 1 to April 1) revealed increase of Rs10 per kg in poultry live bird to Rs60 from Rs50 per kg, while the rates of meat had also jumped to Rs110 from Rs85-90 per kg. Egg prices had also surged to Rs23 from Rs21 per dozen.

Decline in wheat prices and flour bag of 80-kg had also caused a drop in retail side. Fine atta was selling at Rs11 as compared to Rs12 per kg last month followed by drop in no. 2.5 atta to Rs10 from Rs12 per kg. The price of an 80-kg bag of fine atta plunged to Rs735-740 from Rs825 while the rates of 80-kg bag of flour also caved into Rs775-780 from Rs830-840. The price of 10-kg Ashrafi flour bag also fell to Rs115 from Rs120.

In vegetables, potato prices fell to Rs6 per kg from Rs8-10 per kg as a result of ample availability of stocks and continuous arrival from producing areas. Its wholesale price was hovering between Rs2-3 per kg.

Onion prices also dipped to Rs4 per kg from Rs5 to Rs6 per kg while some retailers were still charging Rs5 per kg. In some areas, push cart owners were selling three kg onion at Rs10. Its wholesale prices ranged between Rs2-3 per kg. Onion was currently in oversupply position due to bumper crop.

Tomato prices depicted no change and was selling at Rs8 per kg. It was available at Rs3-4 per kg. Tomato was arriving from Sindh’s new crop.

The price of garlic (arriving from China, Singapore and local crop) dived to Rs25-32 depending on the quality from Rs40 kg, while the rates of ginger, being imported from Singapore and China, had also declined to Rs25-32 from Rs40 per kg. Their wholesale rates are ranging between Rs18-22 per kg.

Retailers continued to fleece the consumers in pulses despite no upward move in prices at wholesale levels. Mung (washed and whole) were still being retailed at Rs27-32 per kg as its wholesale price saw no change at Rs24.50 per kg.

The wholesale price of mash had dived to Rs21 per kg from Rs23 per kg last month. As a result of it, retailer prices showed a drop to Rs22-26 per kg from Rs28-30 per kg.

Masur (whole and washed) price held unchanged at Rs30-35 per kg in view of no change in its wholesale price at Rs28 per kg. No change was seen in prices of arhar pulse at Rs28-30 per kg as its wholesale price had been intact at Rs25 per kg. However, in some areas retailers were demanding Rs32 per kg.

The wholesale price of gram pulse (small and big) had decreased to Rs18.50-19.50 per kg from Rs25 per kg last month. However, retailers were charging the price on their own. In Tariq Road, retailers were demanding Rs28-30 per kg while in Landhi area, it was being sold at Rs26 per kg.

Sugar prices witnessed no change, staying at Rs19 per kg in many areas. However, in areas like Tariq Road, retailers were asking Rs20 per kg.

Various varieties of rice had shown no fluctuation in prices. Retail price of Irri-6 was now being retailed at Rs11-12.50 per kg. Irri-9 was still selling at Rs18-19 per kg. Basmati Kernal prices stayed between Rs30-40 per kg.

Chairman Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association (KWGA), Anis Majeed said that the wholesale markets have been passing through a lukewarm session after the US attack on Iraq as buyers and sellers had adopted a wait and seen attitude.

“Buyers are not in a hurry to pile up huge stocks over on-going war fears and its long duration. Demand is thin which could be gauged from the fact that prices have not moved up,” he said adding that markets have sufficient stocks of one to two months in case of any emergency.

General Secretary, KRGG, Farid Qureishi said that retail markets have also been facing lacklustre buying trend.