September 06, 2006	Wednesday	Sha'aban 12, 1427

KARACHI, Sept 5: Consumers are unlikely to experience any relief from rising prices of pulses as the price of gram pulse is already touching new peak as Ramazan draws nearer.

The city government has planned to fix the rates by September 10 (15 days before the holy month) but it appears that by that time market forces will succeed in pushing up the rates to the highest limit so that the rates could be fixed on their terms (at higher side).

Traditionally, as a gesture of sympathy towards the consumers, the market players offer discount of Rs1 to two per kg. This, however, hardly provides any relief as prices have been escalated by a wider margin before that announcement.

Gram pulse rates have surged to Rs47-48 per kg at retail stage from Rs44 per kg on September 1. On August 1, it was priced at Rs42 per kg. Currently, its wholesale price is Rs43 per kg. Basin is selling at Rs48 per kg as compared to Rs44 on September 1.

Retailers are charging Rs70 per kg for moong as compared to Rs68 per kg on September 1, and Rs65 per on August 1, while the Chinese moong has landed in the market and is available at Rs55 per kg at wholesale and Rs58 per kg at retail stage.

The masur rates have jumped to Rs38 per kg from Rs32 per kg on September 1. Its wholesale rate is Rs34 per kg. However, in some areas retailers are charging Rs40-42 per kg. The mash price went up to Rs65 per kg as compared to Rs60 per kg on September 1.

Black gram prices rose to Rs45--46 per kg from Rs40 a kg on September 1, and Rs38 per kg on August 1. Its wholesale price is Rs44 per kg.

President Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA) Malik Zulfiqar Ali did not agree that the wholesale rates of pulses were going up ahead of Ramazan. He claimed that the wholesale rates of some pulses had fallen and it was up to the retailers how they charge from the consumers.

He said that gram pulse rates had been under pressure for the last few months owing to 60 per cent drop in local production this year as compared to the last year crop. However, yellow peas are meeting the requirement.

There is a disparity in the wholesale rates quoted by the retailers and the wholesalers. For example, Malik Zulfiqar said that the rates of moong at wholesale range between Rs60-61 per kg, while general Secretary Karachi Retail Grocers Group (KWGG) Farid Qureishi said that the wholesale moong rate was Rs65.

The masoor rates as claimed by the wholesalers range between Rs31-32 per kg but retailers said that it was tagged at Rs34 per kg. Wholesalers’ representative said that the wholesale rates of mash had declined to Rs 57-58 per kg from Rs70 per kg but the retailers’ representative said its rate was Rs60 per kg.

Malik said that the demand of pulses, especially the gram pulse was surging up against the thin supply, which is making an impact on the prices. However, efforts are being made to provide some benefit to the consumers as the association is providing daily movement of pulses rates to the city government.