KARACHI: No attraction in Ramazan package for consumers: Price list issued
By Aamir Shafaat Khan
KARACHI, Sept 29: Consumers will have to buy essential items like pulses, rice, basin, dates, etc., at much higher prices in this Ramazan as compared to the rates prevailed in the same month last year.
Prices of pulses show an increase of Rs2-14 per kg as compared to their prices last year whereas rice has become dearer by Rs2-7 per kg.
According to the rate list, issued by the office of the EDO Enterprise and Investment Promotion, the price of atta no. 2.5 has been fixed at Rs12 per kg as against the last year Rs13 per kg. Fine atta rate has been adjusted at Rs13.50 per kg.
However, the list does not include the rates of dairy milk, meat, poultry items as the city government’s negotiations with the stakeholders for a reduction in prices for Ramazan have not proved successful yet.
Prices of gram pulse (dal chana no.1 and no.2) have been fixed at Rs27 and Rs26 per kg at retail level as compared to Rs26 and Rs24 in the previous Ramazan.
Traders of gram pulse had been clamouring that the consumers will get some relief as the crop size this year has reached up to 900,000 tons out of which only 50 per cent has been consumed so far. However, it seems that the city government and the wholesalers of gram pulse fixed the prices at a higher side under some sort of deal.
The price of basin has been fixed at Rs28-30 per kg whereas that of Kabuli chana no.1, 2 and 3 at Rs50, 47 and 42 although last year, the prices were Rs37, 29 and 27 per kg respectively.
Daal mash no.1 and 2 (washed), which was priced Rs27 and Rs25 per kg last year, is now tagged at Rs39 and Rs37 per kg. Mash (whole) price has been fixed at Rs36 as against the last year’s Rs22 per kg.
Dal mung no.1 and 2 (washed), which were selling at Rs26 and Rs24 per kg last year will be available at Rs37 and Rs36 per kg. Dal mung (chilka and sabut) will now cost Rs34 per kg in this Ramazan as against Rs24 and Rs23 per kg last year.
Dal Arhar no.1 and 2 qualities will be tagged at Rs45 and Rs43 per kg as against the last year’s Rs36 and Rs34 per kg. Dal masur no.1 and 2 qualities will be sold at Rs38 and Rs36 per kg as compared to Rs36 and Rs34 per kg last year. Consumers will pay Rs36 and Rs35 per kg for Dal masur (sabut no.1 and 2) as against Rs34 and Rs 32 per kg last year.
The prices have been fixed without an effective exercise having been conducted to check previous and future import of essential items, stock situations in the markets and arrival from local producing areas.
Surprisingly, the press release of CDGK carries price of sugar at Rs25 per kg at retail level and Rs24.50 per kg at wholesale level, but the General-Secretary of the Karachi Retail Grocers Group (KRGG), Farid Qureishi, said that he had sought permission from the CDGK’s top officials for skipping the commodity from the price list as the wholesale price of sugar was tagged at Rs25 per kg.
The list also does not have the rates of ghee and cooking oil of local companies, milk powder of Nido and Millac brands, tomato ketchup, ovaltine, jam, jelly, marmalade, local spices, etc.
Dates prices are also on a higher side this Ramazan. Dates black Mazafati will be sold at Rs62 per kg as compared to Rs50; Zahidi Irani at Rs42 per kg against Rs35 and Zahidi Basra at Rs37 per kg against Rs30 last year.
Date mix, Rabbai and Sukkur will be retailed at Rs 20, 37 and 40 per kg respectively as compared to last year’s rates of Rs 13, 32 and 35 last year.
KARACHI, Sept 29: Consumers will have to buy essential items like pulses, rice, basin, dates, etc., at much higher prices in this Ramazan as compared to the rates prevailed in the same month last year.
