KARACHI, Aug 1: The burden on consumers has intensified in the last one month following increase in prices of onion, rice, sugar, ginger, garlic and egg. However prices of other greens, pulses and flour varieties have either dropped or remained pegged.

Onion prices have surged to Rs11-12 per kg from Rs10 per kg last month due to slow arrivals from some areas of Balochistan. In Subzi Mandi, its wholesale prices now range between Rs9-9.50 per kg as compared to Rs6-6.50 per kg.

The Sindh crop has finished about 45 days back, and the province is currently consuming Balochistan crop while Punjab is depending on the supplies from the NWFP.

Dealers said that the onion prices are expected to stabilize in mid August when the supplies from various areas of Balochistan crop will resume.

A market survey (from July 1 to August 1) shows that various varieties of rice registered increase.

Irri-6, which was available at Rs11 per kg, is now being sold at Rs14 per kg while Irri-9 is being retailed at Rs20 per kg as compared to 16-18 per kg.

Retailers say that both Irri varieties are facing acute shortage in the markets these days and the stocks are fast depleting. Basmati Kernal is selling at higher rates of Rs45 per kg. The minimum price of basmati is quoted at Rs22-30 per kg, while the lowest quality is being sold at Rs18-20 per kg, showing a rise of Re1 to 2 per kg.

They said that Basmati is being exported to the Middle East and some Arab countries. Export of various varieties of rice has dropped by 16 per cent to $441 million in 2001-2002 from $525 million in 2000-2001 owing to recessionary trend in world market. The outgoing fiscal year proved a bad year for local rice crop due to drought conditions, resulting in drop in its production.

Some retailers are charging Rs23 per kg for sugar as compared to Rs22 per kg despite the fact that its wholesale prices, which had gone up to Rs2,130-2,150 per 100 kg in the second week of July, have reverted to old rate of Rs2,050-2,070.

Sugar prices had been under pressure in last month after reports that the government had given green signal to export surplus stock.

Prices of ginger and garlic, selling at Rs40 per kg last month, surged to Rs48 per kg due what wholesalers say to levy of import duty in the budgetary measures for the new fiscal year. These two varieties of greens usually arrive from China and Singapore.

Frequent supplies to Punjab and other upcountry destinations have resulted in shooting up of egg price to Rs30 per dozen from Rs28 per dozen last month. Demand of egg has picked up after rains in various areas of Punjab.

However, prices of live poultry bird remained intact at old rate of Rs58 per kg despite frequent supplies of live bird to Punjab from Karachi and interior Sindh areas. Poultry meat is selling at Rs100 per kg while in some areas retailers are charging Rs104-105 per kg.

In other items, no change has been witnessed in the price of potato, maintaining at Rs8-10 per kg following frequent supplies from Punjab’s cold storages. Its wholesale prices hover between Rs6-8 per kg.

Tomato prices dropped to Rs10-12 per kg as compared to Rs15 per kg last month. In wholesale market, its price ranged between Rs8-10 per kg. Tomato is arriving from Balochistan and NWFP.

Like last month, pulses prices continued to maintain stability in its rates. Wholesalers said that prices of various pulses have declined by 50 paisa to Re1 per kg due to lesser demand but its impact is yet to be seen at the retail sides.

Gram pulse (Australia) is available at Rs30-35 per kg while mung is being retailed at Rs30-32 per kg. Mash, arriving from Burma, is selling at Rs30-35 per kg. Masur is quoted at Rs28-30 while its high quality can be purchased at Rs34 per kg. Arhar prices are held unchanged at Rs28-30 per kg.

Atta No. 2.5 and fine atta are selling at last month’s rate of Rs9-10 per kg and Rs10-11 per kg respectively.

In fruits, various varieties of mango like Chaunsa and Fajri remained in high demand. Chaunsa is being retailed at Rs30-40 per kg while Fajri prices range between Rs30-40 per kg.