KARACHI, Nov 1: Prices of a number of essential items declined during the last month because government had fixed prices, which were on lower side and supplies were frequent from the producing areas.

Only poultry prices were higher as consumers paid Rs4 per kg more to buy live poultry bird at Rs64. Poultry meat also became dearer by Rs4 per kg to Rs100 from Rs96 per kg. With the start of winter season, egg prices showed phenomenal increase of Rs7 per dozen to Rs38.

A market survey from October 1 to November 1 revealed that wheat flour continued selling at Rs15 per kg despite tall claims of city government, Sindh government and flour millers to sell atta at Rs13 per kg in Ramazan. Flour millers agreed in the meetings to sell flour at low rates but in practical terms they backed out from their stance.

The city government had succeeded in fixing the pulses rates on the downward side. The price of gram pulse had been fixed at Rs26 from Rs32 per kg while the rate of masur, moong, mash and arhar had been fixed at Rs36, Rs26, Rs27 and Rs26 as against Rs42, 30, 32 and 34 per kg respectively.

However, wholesalers tried hard to reverse the situation but the city government rejected the demand of wholesalers. The issue had now become dead as Ramazan has reached midway.

Wholesalers said that the rates of pulses would rebound after Ramazan as importers had brought the items on higher rate.

Prices of vegetables had gone up in the first week of Ramazan but later started declining due to improved supply from the producing areas. Onion prices plunged to Rs10 from Rs14 per kg while tomato prices dipped to Rs11 from Rs35 per kg. Potato prices remained unchanged at Rs12 per kg while ginger prices caved in to Rs90 from Rs100 per kg. Garlic rates dropped to Rs40 from Rs48 per kg.

No change was seen in the prices of mutton and beef despite frequent arrests of butchers for violating official rates in Ramazan.