KARACHI: Price shocks continue for the buyers of motorcycles as Atlas Honda Ltd increased the prices of its two-wheeler by Rs5,000-Rs15,000 with effect from May 1.

The new price ofHonda CD70 is Rs154,900, CD70 Dream Rs165,900, Pridor Rs203,900, CG125 Rs229,900, CG125S Rs275,900, CB125F Rs380,900, CB150F Rs473,900 and CB150F-Silver Rs477,900.

The country’s second largest bike assembler, United Auto Industries, has also announced a price hike of Rs3,000-Rs5,000 from May 9 for United 70cc-125cc models while citing a rising cost of production.

Mohammad Sabir Sheikh — a seasoned dealer at the Akbar Road market, which is a hub of used and new bikes in Karachi — said the claim of high localisation of up to 96 per cent by Atlas Honda in decades-old 70cc and 125cc models does not seem justifiable in view of the persistent price hikes in the name of depreciation. He recalled that Honda CD70 and CG125 were available at Rs63,500 and Rs105,500 in December 2017.

He said the increase in bike prices was based on the import of semi knocked-down kits and localisation of rubber and plastic parts but the raw materials of these parts are also being imported.

Meanwhile, Nestle Pakistan Ltd informed market dealers through a circular about a Rs10 hike in the price of one-litre tetra pack to Rs270 apiece effective from May 10 without citing any reason. In January, the same was available at Rs220 per litre.

The 250-millilitre pack is now priced at Rs70 as opposed to Rs63 in January.Nestle Pakistan reported this week its quarterly sales in January-March remained Rs49.5 billion, up 31pc from a year ago. Its profit-after-tax soared to Rs5.66bn in the three-month period from Rs4.45bn a year ago.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2023