RAWALPINDI: With fuel prices surging over the last three days, the prices of edible items, including pulses, tomatoes and onions, have skyrocketed.
Residents said the local administration remains a mere spectator.
They said daily fuel price revisions had pushed up the prices of edibles on a daily basis, with no check on the rising rates in the garrison city.
Tomatoes are available at Rs500 per kg, onions at Rs120 per kg and cucumbers at Rs300 per kg, while the prices of pulses have increased by five per cent at retail shops. The price of milk has reached Rs260 per litre and curd Rs280 per kg.
“It is difficult to pay electricity bills and buy edibles,” said a resident.
Tomatoes hit Rs500 per kg as residents complain of unchecked inflation
The common man is facing difficulties in making ends meet. “The prices of vegetables and pulses have increased tremendously, but there is no writ of the government to rein in the situation,” said Abdul Rehman, a resident of Dhoke Khaba.
Faiz Ahmed, a resident of Sadiqabad, said the prices of tomatoes had increased in recent days, leaving people with no option but to have bread and tea for lunch and dinner.
“Pulses’ rates have also increased, as white urad dal is available at Rs700 per kg, while wheat flour is available at Rs2,000 per 10kg, despite the tall claims of the Punjab government that it has reduced the prices of edibles,” he said.
Ibrar Khan, a resident of Ch. Bostan Khan Road, said low-income salaried people had no means to buy meat or chicken, as mutton was available at Rs3,200 per kg and beef at Rs1,800 per kg.
“We use low-quality pulses and vegetables. One meal costs Rs1,000 if we cook only vegetables,” he said.
When contacted, Rawalpindi Karyana Merchant Association Chairman Saleem Pervaiz Butt said the prices of pulses and vegetables had increased as the government had imposed sales tax on vegetable oil, raising its price to Rs3,000 per five-kg pack.
“We are also facing problems as wholesalers have increased the prices of pulses and wheat flour. We purchase edibles from wholesale markets at higher rates, and it is not possible for us to sell them at lower prices,” he said.
He said pulse prices had increased by five per cent due to higher transport charges from supply godowns to retailers’ shops.
He said the Punjab government had directed price magistrates to impose heavy fines on shopkeepers but had failed to rationalise the official price list after checking market rates.
“There are fewer customers in the market due to the increase in edible prices, and shopkeepers are also facing problems because of the decline in consumers,” he said.
He urged the district administration to revise the official price list of edibles in consultation with shopkeepers and wholesalers.
“The administration should also launch a drive to control prices at the wholesale market, as it is the main problematic area,” he said.
Rawalpindi Fruit and Vegetable Association President Ghulam Qadir Mir told Dawn that vegetable prices had increased, with tomatoes available at Rs500 per kg, cucumbers at Rs300 per kg, onions at Rs120 per kg, potatoes at Rs80 per kg and other vegetables above Rs150 per kg.
“The basic reason behind the price increase is the surge in fuel prices, as transporters have increased charges on a daily basis. Before daily fuel price fixation, transporters revised transport charges on a weekly, fortnightly and monthly basis, but things have changed now,” he said.
He said there was also a shortage of vegetables, as tomato and onion prices increased after the Afghan border was closed in the past. Fresh supplies used to come from across the border during the monsoon season.
He said it was the responsibility of the district administration to call a meeting of wholesale dealers and ask them to improve supplies, but the administration had turned a blind eye to the issue.
Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2026
