ISLAMABAD, June 23: The prices of 15 essential kitchen items, including potatoes, witnessed upward trend during the week ending on June 22, over the previous week, according to the weekly price data released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) here on Saturday.

The key items prices of which steadily rose during the past weeks included various varieties of rice, vegetables, pulses and vegetable ghee or oil. This drastically affected the monthly budget of the consumers.

According to data, prices of 15 items went up during the period under review. The price of potatoes increased by 16.5 per cent to Rs16.38 per kg, chicken by 10.25 per cent to Rs68.93 per kg, onions by 5.34 per cent to Rs12.43 per kg, eggs by 4.08 per cent to Rs37.78 per dozen.

Price of rice basmati broken was recorded at Rs30.66 (079 per cent increase), mustard oil Rs86.93 per kg (0.72 per cent), gram pulse washed Rs37.68 per kg (0.61 per cent), wheat Rs11.81 per kg (0.59 per cent).

The price of wheat flour increased by 0.57 per cent to Rs14 per kg, electric bulb 60 watt 0.5 per cent to Rs12.06, vegetable ghee loose 0.32 percent to Rs87.31 per kg, rice irri-6 by 0.27 per cent to Rs21.97 per kg, masoor pulse washed 0.25 per cent to Rs47.51 per kg and moong pulse washed 0.11 per cent to Rs56.35 per kg.

The Sensitive Price Index (SPI) increased by 0.25 per cent during the week ending on June 22, over the previous week.

The group-wise analysis of the behaviour of prices of 53 essential items prevailing in 17 towns of Pakistan showed that the SPI witnessed an increase of 0.26 per cent and 0.24 per cent, respectively, for households in the two lower income brackets (up to Rs3,000 and Rs3,001-5,000).

For the households in income brackets Rs5,001-12,000, the increase in the SPI was in the range of 0.24 per cent, while for the households in the income group basket of over Rs12,000, the inflation registered a growth 0.22 per cent over the previous week.

Comparing with the corresponding week last year, the SPI registered an increase of 7.75 per cent during the period under review.

Staff Reporter adds: The government’s claim of reducing prices of consumer items seems to be mere eyewash as significant increase has been witnessed in the rates of various food items in the capital just a few days after the announcement of the federal budget.

A substantial increase has been observed in the prices of consumer items, including wheat flour, vegetable ghee, cooking oil, vegetables, fruits and pulses.

The residents expressed their reaction over the sudden increase of daily edible prices and alleged that the department concerned had totally failed to control the situation.

According to the rates obtained from different markets, an increase of Rs5 to Rs10 has been witnessed in the price of wheat flour whereas rates of vegetable ghee and cooking oil has gone up by Rs10 per kg.

Visitors at the fruit and vegetable market in Islamabad said prices of vegetables, fruits and pulses have jumped up in the last 10 days.

It has been observed that the rates of Dal Channa, Masoor and Moong have increased between Rs5 to Rs10.

It was announced in the federal budget that consumer items like pulses and other items would be available on reduced rates in all utility stores, but people complained that such items were not available in sufficient quantity at these stores.

In order to control prices, the Punjab government has delegated magisterial powers to one dozen revenue officers who can conduct raid on any market and shopping centre to check prices, but they lack power to arrest violators as a result of which shopkeepers have increased the prices without any fear.

Fruit sellers are also charging their own rates as mangoes are being sold in the range of Rs35 to Rs60 per kg, water melon between Rs5 and Rs15 per kg, Chinese apple for Rs70 per 120kg, apple golden, Rs50 per kg, apple kalakulo, Rs100 per kg and banana in the range of Rs35 and Rs70 per kg.