KARACHI, June 30: Only pulses and vegetables proved a sheer burden on consumers last month compared with other kitchen items whose prices either declined or remained stable.

Over 50 per cent decline in the arrival of trucks from the upcountry at the Subzimandi owing to incessant rains since Saturday pushed up rates of vegetables to maximum limits.

Heavy rains again resumed on Saturday after a gap of two days and prices of greens now much depend on the arrival of trucks.

Tomato prices after reaching Rs120 a kg on Monday last, showed some flexibility in its rates, falling to Rs45 on Saturday after witnessing fluctuation between Rs80-100 per kg during the week.

However, prices of onion and potato surged to Rs15 from Rs14 per kg two days back, while they were priced at Rs12 a kg ahead of storm and rains.

Ginger and garlic, according to wholesalers, have not risen, but the retailers are, in fact, fully cashing in on the situation. Retailers are still quoting it Rs60 per kg from Rs 40 per kg.

The wholesale tomato prices have now dropped to Rs500 to Rs600 per 15-16 kg wooden box on Saturday from Rs1,200 two days back. It has touched an all-time high to Rs1,800 per wooden box on Monday. Prior to rains, the wooden box was available at Rs100-150 because of regular supply from Balochistan crop.

The wholesale price of onion, arriving from Balochistan and NWFP crops, climbed to Rs10-12 from Rs9-10 per kg two days back. It was available at Rs6 to 7 per kg before rains. Consumers are now paying Rs15 per kg at retail stage.

The arrival of trucks from the upcountry still is reeling between 300 to 400 trucks as compared to 800-1,000 prior to rains.

President, Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, Haji Shahjehan, feared that if rains continue, the consumers would again face shortage of vegetables, and prices might go up further.

He said some 25 to 30 tons of tomato had arrived by air from Rawalpindi and Lahore on Saturday to meet the demand in the city. Some 12 to 15 tons had arrived two days back.

He said a sizable quantity of Balochistan’s onion at the wholesale market has perished. In potato, there has been shortage in the wholesale market as dealers have slowed down loading from Punjab’s cold storage owing to frequent rains and unsatisfactory condition of the vegetable market.

Shahjehan said the there are only 20-25 per cent retail buyers in the wholesale market as they are not turning up owing to bad weather and higher rates at the wholesale stage.

Besides, prices of other vegetables have also surged phenomenally. Lady-finger is now being sold at Rs50 a kg as compared to Rs40 a day back and Rs 20-25 per kg last week.

The price of white gourd reached Rs35 per kg from Rs 15-16 per kg.

Bitter gourd prices have further surged to Rs35-40 from Rs30 per kg two days back while it was selling at Rs16-20 per kg. Ridge gourd prices are being quoted at Rs30 to 35 per kg from Rs16-20 per kg.

In pulses, the issuance of tender by the Passco for the purchase of 100,000 tons of desi chic-peas or gram (whole) from the market has pushed up rates of gram pulse.

Chairman, Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association (KWGA), Anis Majeed, said if the government tried to keep a buffer stock of 100,000 tons for stabilising prices in Ramazan, the quantity is too huge as compared to crop size of 700,000 tons and it is also too early.

He said masur has become costlier due to increase in international market as every country is buying it from Canada. Pakistan’s local crop of 20,000-25,000 tons has already arrived in March this year. Price in Burma has pushed up the local rates of mash.

He said rains since last Saturday have not made any impact on prices. The arrival has been slow from the upcountry, but buyers at the wholesale market are very thin owing to frequent rains in the city.

Poultry live birds rates, which climbed to Rs70 from Rs62 per kg during the week because of thin supplies from the farms, have again stabilised.