KARACHI, Jan 31: The month of January saw no major upward change in prices of edible items except for increase in some flour varieties that remained under pressure.

Fine atta prices surged to Rs15 from Rs14 per kg, while a 10-kg bag of fine atta was selling at Rs145, as compared to Rs140. However, atta No 2.5 prices declined to Rs12-13 per kg from Rs14.

"The issue regarding suspension in supply of wheat by the Sindh food department to the millers still lingers on despite several meetings between the millers and the government," shopkeepers said.

Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association chairman Anis Majeed said that atta No 2.5 prices now ranged between Rs980 and Rs990 per 80 kg bag, while rate of 100 kg wheat bag hovered between Rs1,120 and Rs1,130. "Millers are still not getting wheat from the government."

Notable decline came in prices of poultry items owing to outbreak of avian influenza in layer birds that killed over 3.5 million birds in the last two months in Karachi.

Broiler live bird prices fell to Rs48 from Rs68 per kg on January 1, while its meat prices declined to Rs82 per kg from Rs110-112. Egg prices also plunged to Rs32 per dozen from Rs39 per kg. Layer bird prices shed away to Rs32 from Rs38 per kg.

In vegetables, retailers were making heaps of profits despite stability in wholesale prices of onion at Rs8-10 per kg during the last 15-20 days. They are still charging Rs14-15 per kg. In posh areas the commodity was being retailed at Rs16-17 per kg.

President, Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, Super Highway, Haji Shahjehan, said the new Sindh's onion crop was in full swing and prices were likely to stabilize as arrivals from new areas of Sindh were picking up.

Potato prices remained intact at Rs7 per kg, thanks to better supplies from the new Punjab crop. Its wholesale price now ranged between Rs2.5 and Rs3 per kg. He said Pakistani potato was facing stiff competition from Indian and Chinese varieties in markets like Malaysia, Colombo and the Middle East.

As a result of intense competition and rate factors, exports remained slow.

Tomato prices plunged to Rs12-14 per kg from Rs16, but the rates charged by the retailers were too high in view of lower wholesale prices of Rs5-6 per kg at the Subzi Mandi. The Sindh crop of tomato was also being sent to areas of Punjab and NWFP.

The wholesale rates of ginger (China) and garlic (local) had remained stable at Rs22-24 and Rs15-20 per kg, but retailers were charging at last month's (December) rate of Rs40 per kg.

Sugar prices remained pegged at Rs18-19 per kg owing to improved supplies from the millers.

In pulses, gram pulse No.1 and No.2 qualities were selling at old rates of Rs22 and Rs24 per kg. Its wholesale prices were ranging between Rs18 and Rs20 per kg, respectively. Masoor No.1 and No.2 prices were selling at last month's rate of Rs32 and Rs34 per kg, respectively, while their wholesale rates were Rs27 and Rs29 per kg. Mung was being retailed at Rs20-25 per kg, almost same of last month. Arhar prices were intact at Rs32 and Rs36 per kg for No.1 and No.2 qualities, respectively, while their wholesale prices were Rs27 and Rs30 per kg.

In rice, basmati kernal prices were hovering between Rs36-40, while Irri-6 depicted no change in prices at Rs12.

Anis Majeed said businessmen were facing problems due to frequent rise in freight rates by foreign shipping lines.

In a surprise move, he said, Hanjin Shipping had sent a letter on January 20, saying that war risk surcharge of $160 against the bill of lading has been imposed for shipment effected from Melbourne Port to Karachi only.

He said there was no justification of charging WRS when there is no threat of any war in the region.