RAWALPINDI: The district administration issued a new price list for edibles on Friday, increasing the prices of pulses and removing the Naan price.

These rates were set in consultation with traders’ associations at the deputy commissioner’s office with the district price committee. The Rawalpindi Karyana Merchant Association rejected the list, arguing that the pulse prices should align more closely with the wholesale market rates.

Currently, Roti is available at Rs15 and Naan at Rs20 in the market, but the administrationissuedrate of Rs14 for Roti removed Naan from the price list.

The rates of pulses increased in the new official list as compared to the list issued on March 9, 2024. The new rate of Daal Channa is Rs305 per kg while in the previous list it was Rs245 per kg, Daal Moong is fixed at Rs320 per kg and its previous price was Rs290 per kg, Daal Mash is Rs550 per kg while in previous list it was at Rs490 per kg, new price for Basin is Rs280 per kg while in last list it was at Rs245 per kg. The price of rice has remained the same at Rs300 per kg along with milk at Rs190 per litre, curd at Rs200 per kg, mutton at Rs1600 per kg and beef at Rs800 per kg.

Rawalpindi Merchant Association President Saleem Pervaiz Butt told Dawn that the traders had reservations on the newpricelist failing to reflect the ground realities. “We wanted to increase more as priceof pulses jumped as Mash Daal is at Rs600 per kg in whole sale market, Daal Channa at Rs340 per kg,” he said and added it will difficult to sell the pulses as per that list.

A seniorofficialof the district administration stated that the provincial government has mandated the implementation of the official price list. Price magistrates will ensure compliance during field visits for shopkeepers to display the official price list prominently.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2024