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| October 29, 2003 | Wednesday | Ramazan 2, 1424 |
Prices of food items soar: 25 to 50pc increase recorded
ISLAMABAD, Oct 28: Prices of consumer items went up by 25 to 50 per cent in Islamabad on the first day of Ramazan, some of the customers in sector G-9 weekly bazaar told Dawn.
They said prices had gone up not only at the weekly bazaars but also in other parts of the city. However, the prices in other markets were comparatively higher than those in the weekly bazaar.
“Despite tall claims of the Islamabad capital territory administration regarding stabilizing prices in the holy month, vendors have started not only charging higher prices but also selling substandard and unhygienic items,” the consumers said.
They alleged that the Islamabad administration and the CDA were supporting the traders by issuing lists showing higher rates of vegetables and fruits in the weekly bazaars.
However, traders in other markets were charging more than the rates issued for weekly bazaars, a customer, Mohammad Feroze, said.
According to the rate lists implemented at the Tuesday weekly bazaar at sector G-9, an increase of Rs30 had been made in the price of onion as it was selling at Rs80 per 5kg against its pre- Ramazan price of Rs50 per 5kg.
Similarly, potatoes were being sold at Rs50 per 5kg against Rs43 per 5 kg previously.
The rate of chilies was stated to be Rs40 per kg but a day before Ramazan it was Rs20 per kg.
The bundle of Spanish, weighing 1kg, was selling at Rs6 in the weekly bazaar against its previous rate of Rs3. Cabbage was selling at Rs15 per kg.
Likewise, dates were selling at Rs70 to Rs100 per kg against previous rate of Rs40 to Rs50 per kg. Coriander was available at Rs10 per bundle, which was Rs5 earlier.
Bananas were available at Rs30 per dozen which before Ramazan was Rs20 per dozen. Similarly, apples were available at Rs40 per kg against Rs25 per kg earlier.
Pomegranates were being sold on higher rates in the weekly bazaar as the commodity was available at Rs40 per kg against its previous price of Rs30 per kg.
An increase of Rs10 was registered in the price of guavas as they were available at Rs30 per kg.
Carrots, ginger and garlic were available at Rs14, Rs18 and Rs14, respectively, against their pre-Ramazan prices of Rs10, Rs12 and Rs10.
According to fresh rates of consumer items taken from various markets, a 5kg tin of Pakwan Ghee was selling at cost Rs255 while a couple of days ago it was being sold at Rs225. Similarly, 2.5kg tin of the same brand of ghee was available at Rs135 against its previous price of Rs120.
The wholesale rate of 16kg tin of ghee is stated to be Rs880; however, it was selling at Rs820 two days ago, a trader, Shabbir Shah, in Karachi Company area said.
He said as a result of sudden increase in the price of 16kg tin of ghee, the commodity (loose) would be sold at Rs60 per kg at retail level against its previous price of Rs55 per kg.
The price of 20kg wheat flour bag has gone up by Rs12 as it is selling at Rs215 against its two-day old price of Rs203 at retail level.
Sugar was being sold at an increased price of Rs21 per kg against its previous rate of Rs19 per kg. “We are purchasing 50kg bag of sugar at Rs975 whose rate was Rs915 two days ago,” another trader, Shehzad, at G-8 Markaz said.
The price of gram flour, commonly called “besan” has also increased to Rs28 per kg against its previous rate of Rs26 per kg.
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