KARACHI, Sept 1: Consumers had either paid same or lower prices to buy their monthly kitchen items last month as a result of stability in prices.

The negative impact of torrential rains in interior Sindh and the city during July-August, which had caused a phenomenal price flare up specially in vegetables, is finally over in the markets.

Wholesale dealers of vegetables said that trading had now returned to its normal routine.

The markets are now flooded with rain-affected vegetables, thus attracting a sizable number of consumers owing to their cheaper rates.

A market survey (from September 1 to August 1) revealed stability in rates of good quality onion to last month’s of Rs8 per kg while the rain-affected onion was being sold at Rs5 per kg in various areas.

Onion, arriving from Balochistan, was selling at Rs4 to Rs5 per kg at wholesale level, while good quality onion from Peshawar area was available at Rs6 per kg. Inferior quality onion was selling at Rs4 per kg at New Sabzi Mandi at Super Highway.

Potato prices were intact at last month’s level of Rs8 per kg as its wholesale prices were hovering between Rs3-3.50 per kg.

Phenomenal drop was seen in prices of tomato to Rs8-10 per kg from Rs40-80 per kg last month as a result of swift supply from Balochistan crop. A 15-kg wooden peti of tomato was available at Rs80-100 in the Sabzi Mandi. Low quality tomato, affected by rain, was selling at Rs5 to Rs6 per kg. Tomato prices had gone beyond affordable levels owing to suspension of transport route between Karachi to Quetta on account of heavy rains and thunderstorm.

Prices of garlic and ginger depicted no change in their rates, and were being sold at Rs32-35 per kg respectively in the markets.

High mortality of poultry birds at the farms in interior Sindh owing to rains did not make any major impact on the poultry bird prices which remained intact at Rs58 per kg. Poultry meat was selling at Rs98 per kg. Egg prices dropped to Rs26 from Rs30 per dozen.

There is a disparity in rates of poultry in the markets as rates quoted by Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) are higher by Rs2 per kg as compared to rates of Karachi Wholesale Poultry Association (KWPA). Both the associations have been fighting for many years on the authority of issuing daily rates.

In pulses, wholesale markets had been quiet for the last four months as far as rates are concerned. No wide fluctuation in prices had been witnessed.

Price of mung (washed and whole) registered no change in prices, staying at Rs28-30 per kg. Its wholesale prices remained pegged at last month’s level of Rs21-24 per kg. Wholesale price of mash also held unchanged at Rs16-21 while its retail prices were hovering between Rs24-28 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 Rs26-32 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 Rs20-22 per kg, thus making no impact at retail prices of Rs25 per kg.

No change was witnessed in prices of various varieties of rice. The wholesale price of Irri-6 and Irri-9 was still intact at Rs11 and Rs18-20 per kg. Kernal Basmati Special price was tagged at Rs42-45 per kg at wholesale followed by Rs40 and Rs36 per kg for no.1 and no.2 qualities.

No upward price movement was seen in fine atta and atta no. 2.5, selling at Rs11-12 and Rs11-12 per kg. Sugar prices held unchanged at Rs19 per kg. It was available at Rs17.30 per kg at wholesale markets.