KARACHI, March 8: The manufacturers of powdered milk have increased its price from Rs35 to Rs45 per kg. While a tea whitener, produced by a multinational company has become dearer by Rs25 per kg at the retail stage.
A popular brand, Nido 1,000 gram pack will now cost Rs295 compared to Rs250. The 400 grams pack will cost Rs135 up from Rs115. The one kg pack of Everyday tea whitener, produced by Nido, will be available at Rs270 compared to Rs250 while its 400grams pack will be sold at Rs125 up from Rs115. Similarly, a Millac a 1,000grams pack will retail at Rs275, up from Rs240. Consumers will have to pay Rs125 for a 400grams pack compared to Rs105.
General Secretary Karachi Retail Grocers Group (KRGG), Farid Qureishi said many consumers, who receive salaries after the fifth and do their monthly shopping, were shocked by the sharp jump in rates. He did not give any reason for the increase saying the companies could better tell the reason behind the increase.
A retailer said the multinational companies were increasing powdered milk prices because of rising demand in the last two years as many people had shifted to using powder milk instead of fresh milk. Milk in tetra packs has become costlier in the last two years. A month ago the city government held two meetings with tetra milk producers but with no result.
The consumers of fresh milk are paying Rs32 to Rs34 per litre despite a crackdown on retailers and the differences continue between retailers and the city government in the court room. In 1985, fresh milk was selling at Rs7 per litre, it increased to Rs11 per litre in 1990, Rs16 per litre in 1995, Rs22 per litre in 2000 and Rs28 per litre in 2005.
