KARACHI, July 1: Onion, potato and eggs became costlier in the last one month, while prices of other essential items either remained pegged to their old levels or fell because of better stock position.
Retailers in various areas, despite no change in wholesale price of Rs4-5 per kg, were charging Rs7 per kg for onion as compared to Rs6 per kg last month. They attributed the increase in prices to export of high quality onion and start of new Balochistan crop. Sindh crop had already finished and new crop would restart in September-October.
A price survey from June 1 to July 1 showed a rise of 1-2 rupees per kg in potato prices, to Rs7-8 per kg. Strangely, retailers were again blamed for overcharging as prices at wholesale markets remained intact at Rs4-5 per kg. Potato, also being exported to Colombo, was arriving from Punjab’s cold storage.
Eggs became dearer by Rs6 per dozen to Rs26 from Rs20 per dozen despite the fact that the demand for eggs usually declined in summer. On the contrary, prices of poultry live bird and its meat fell to Rs 60 and Rs 105 per kg from Rs 64 and Rs 115 per kg respectively. In some areas, poultry live bird was being retailed at Rs58 per kg.
Tomato prices also plunged to Rs14 per kg from Rs15-20 per kg owing to better supplies from Balochistan’s new crop followed by arrivals from Peshawar. Wholesale prices fell to Rs10 per kg from Rs13-14 per kg last month.
Prices of garlic (arriving from China and local crop) and ginger (from China and Singapore) remained unchanged at Rs30-32 and Rs40 per kg respectively.
Despite lethargic trend in pulses market for the last couple of months, because of thin demand and ample stocks, retailers kept on fleecing consumers.
The main feature of the pulses markets was the persistent exports of desi chic peas/split to India. According to chairman Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association (KWGA), Anis Majeed, till now around 35,000 tons, valuing more than one million dollars, had been exported to the neighbouring country. He said if the future orders persisted to arrive, Pakistan would be able to send 70,000-80,000 tons there in view of bumper crop in the country.
Mung prices depicted no change at Rs28-30 per kg as its wholesale prices remained unchanged at Rs21-24 per kg. Wholesale price of mash also stayed unchanged at Rs19-21 while its retail prices were hovering between Rs24-26 per kg. No change was seen in masur (whole and washed) prices at Rs30-35 per kg in view of no fluctuation in wholesale price of Rs26-28 per kg. Arhar prices remained pegged at Rs28-30 per kg as wholesale price posted no change at Rs22-25 per kg. Wholesale price of gram pulse ranged between Rs18.50-19.50 per kg, thus making no impact at retail prices of Rs25-28 per kg.
Anis Majeed said that retailers were not ready to cut prices despite the fact that wholesale prices had not moved upward in the last two months.
The markets saw no change in prices of various varieties of rice. The wholesale price of Irri-6 and Irri-9 was still intact at Rs11 and Rs18 per kg. Kernal Basmati Special price was tagged at Rs42 per kg at wholesale followed by Rs40 and Rs36 kg for No.1 and No.2 qualities.
No upward price movement was seen in fine atta and atta No.2.5, selling at Rs11 and Rs10 per kg respectively. However, in some areas like Tariq Road, Bahadurabad, etc., retailers were charging Re1 per kg more from consumers.
Sugar prices did not show any change, staying at Rs19 per kg, while its wholesale price was tagged at Rs17.65 per kg.
In fruits, almost all varieties
of mango were dominating
the local markets. Prices of Sindhri at wholesale markets shot up to Rs200-220 per 10-12 kg of wooden box from Rs160-180 as its crop was nearing to end. As demand had flared up, prices of daseri variety also went up to Rs190-220 from Rs170-180. Chaunsa was available at Rs220-230 per 12 kg of wooden box. Saroli prices were ranging between Rs150-200 per box.
