KARACHI, May 31: Except for increase in prices of moong, mash and arhar pulses, rates of other essentials remained broadly unchanged over the last one month. However, rising tomato prices remained a cause of concern for the end users. Mash prices shot up to Rs38 from Rs36 per kg owing to costlier imports from Burma. At wholesale, its price was still flying high between Rs32 and Rs34 per kg. Arhar prices also went up to Rs42 a kg from Rs40, while in some areas retailers were charging Rs44 per kg. At wholesale, its price rose to Rs38 from Rs36 per kg. The commodity is arriving from Burma.
Moong prices also surged to Rs40 from Rs36 a kg because of sizable exports to India. It is now being sold at Rs36 at the wholesale level as against Rs34 a kg last month. A price survey from May 1 to June 1, 2005 revealed that tomato price increased to Rs26 from Rs16 per kg because a sizable quantity is still being sent to Punjab.
Among the losers — onion prices fell to Rs12 from Rs16 per kg last month owing to arrivals from India and start of the Balochistan crop. Potato prices also dropped by Re1 to Rs15 from Rs16 per kg due to frequent supplies from Punjab cold storages. Ginger and garlic prices remained unchanged at Rs70 and Rs55 per kg, respectively.
Masoor prices also declined to Rs40 from Rs48 per kg because of imports from India and arrivals from local supplies.
Gram pulse rates also came down to Rs25 from Rs30 per kg because of arrivals of the new crop. However, the commodity is being exported to India.
Due to hot weather demand for poultry products remained thin. Prices of live bird declined to Rs72 from Rs76 per kg. Its meat prices fell to Rs115 from Rs135 per kg. Egg prices fell slightly by Re1 to Rs29 from Rs30 per dozen.
Prices of all varieties of rice remained stable while no surge was seen in prices of various flour varieties. Overall, the month of May proved a bit relief for the consumers whose monthly spending remained somewhat in control as compared to the previous months when prices showed upward movement.
