KARACHI, Feb 1: Prices of essential commodities moved both ways during the last one month as pulses and poultry products took lead in the price-escalation, while vegetables, like onion, tomato, potato, ginger, garlic etc., witnessed a decline in prices.

According to a price survey, between Jan 1 and Feb 1, 2007, gram pulse surged to Rs52 from Rs48 per kg, followed by moong to Rs60 from Rs47 and arhar to Rs48 from Rs46 per kg, retailers said.

Chairman, Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association (KWGA), Anis Majeed, said only moong had been under pressure due to decline in its production this year owing to rains.

He said gram pulse (No 1 and No 2) is easily available at Rs42 and Rs44 per kg, so why retailers had been quoting its wholesale price at Rs47 and Rs50 per kg.

“And on the basis of this, how can they charge Rs52 per kg at the retail,” he asked?

He said it is strange to see a big gap between the No 1 and No 2 quality prices at both retail and wholesale levels as quoted by the retailers.

He ruled out the possibility of any increase in the demand of pulses in Muharram for preparation of Haleem. He said there has been a very slow lifting of pulses for Muharram this year.

He said chana kabuli at wholesale is available at Rs44 to Rs45 per kg and it is strange that retailers had been quoting its wholesale price at Rs62 and Rs70 per kg.

Sugar prices have surged by Rs2 per kg in the last one month as retailers quoted the wholesale rate of Rs30 per kg.

Mr Anis expressed surprise over sale of sugar at Rs32 per kg by the retailers while its wholesale price is Rs28.50-29.00 per kg.

It has often been observed that once retailers push up rates on the pretext of rising prices at the wholesale, they continue to maintain such increases for a long time even if prices at the wholesale come down.

As a result, there is a big disparity in the prices of wholesale and retail, and ultimately consumers suffer at the hands of retailers.

In case of poultry birds, the industry has already warned about an increase in poultry prices, and they have proved this during the last one month.

General Secretary, Karachi Wholesalers’ Poultry Association (KWPA), Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui, linked the price-hike to slow production in the winter season.

He said 95pc of breeders are based in the northern areas which are in the grip of blistering cold, thus affecting the production of poultry.

He, however, said Karachiites consume poultry products coming from the interior of Sindh or from the farms in the surrounding areas of the city.

There has been a drop of 20 per cent in supply of poultry products from the breeding areas.

He said some 400,000 birds are being slaughtered in Karachi daily in normal days. The figure has now declined to 325,000-350,000 birds owing to higher prices. The price of one day old chick has increased to Rs16 as compared to Rs2 a month back.

He said prices of poultry birds are expected to normalise with a change in weather.

He added egg prices have been on the decline due to falling demand.

Egg remains in high demand in extreme cold weather.

Vegetable prices are on the decline owing to improved supply from local crops, coupled with their import.