May 02, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1429

KARACHI, May 1: Prices of flour, rice, gram pulse, vegetables, red chilli, tetra milk and 16-kg ghee tin have gone up in April, while chicken rates fell slightly.

A monthly survey revealed that prices of rice have hit an all-time high due to massive exports, and the government decision to fix minimum export price may result in a decline of a few rupees per kg.

The lifting of ban on wheat movement from the upcountry has failed to bring any relief for the consumers as millers have not reduced flour prices.

Gram pulse has hit a new peak on reports of 450,000-500,000 tons of gram production this year against the requirement of 700,000 tons.

The price of 16-kg ghee tin has surged after increase in the rates of palm olien in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Onion prices went up to Rs8 per kg due to slow arrivals of the new Balochistan crop. The old crop onion is selling at Rs4-5 per kg. Sufficient stock of the Sindh onion is available due to very negligible export.

The good quality potato is being sold at Rs10 per kg as the entire supply was arriving from the cold storages in Punjab.

The price of Sindh tomato has declined and it is available at Rs10 to Rs15 per kg.

Garlic price has fallen to Rs20 per kg in the wholesale market, but the retailers were charging Rs40 for one kg.

Ginger, imported from China, is being sold Rs50 per kg.

Chicken price has fallen slightly due to summer season. The wholesalers association has further cut its rate to Rs106 per kg for live poultry bird and to Rs180 per kg for its meat with effect from Friday (May 2).

Some 250,000 birds are being slaughtered daily as compared to 350,000-400,000 birds per day in winter.

Tetra milk producers have increased price to Rs48 from Rs44 per litre.

Majority of retailers are selling substandard loose milk at Rs34 per litre as the city government and dairy farmers have yet to agree on a price. In many areas the loose milk is being sold at Rs38-42 per litre.