KARACHI, Sept 1: As Ramazan is only one month away and petroleum rates have been increased, prices of pulses have started moving up and market analysts smell hoarding activities and artificial jack up of prices to make windfalls in the holy month.
Karachi Retail Grocers Group (KRGG) General-Secretary Farid Qureish has claimed that the price of masoor has surged by Rs4 to Rs46 from Rs42 per kg, while moong rates have climbed to Rs42 from Rs40 per kg, followed by a surge in mash to Rs45 from Rs38, arhar to Rs50 from Rs45 and gram pulse to Rs30 from Rs28 per kg. The price of kabuli chana has soared to Rs50 from Rs45 per kg.
He said that rates have gone up owing to an increase in wholesale prices of these items. He quoted the rate of moong at Rs38 at the wholesale level, masoor at Rs40, mash at Rs41, arhar at Rs45 and kabuli chana at Rs46.
Surprisingly, a member of the KRGG at Quaidabad quoted the rate of moong at Rs40 per kg, masoor at Rs42, gram pulse at Rs30, arhar at Rs44 and mash at Rs40 per kg. He said the price of kabuli chana was Rs45 per kg.
Meanwhile, Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA) adviser Anis Majeed said the price of moong at wholesale ranged between Rs34 and Rs35, masoor Rs36-37, mash Rs36-37, arhar Rs40 and gram pulse Rs24-25 per kg.
He said rates were normal at the wholesale markets, as purchase for Ramazan was yet to pick up. He said it was surprising that retailers were quoting such higher rates.
Onion price has come under pressure owing to frequent exports to the Middle East and other Muslim countries. Its price surged to Rs16 from Rs13 per kg. Number one and two qualities of onion are selling at Rs14-15 and Rs10-12 per kg, respectively, at the Subzi Mandi. Balochistan’s crop has started arriving while Sindh’s crop will find its way into the market in October.
The President, Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, Super Highway, Haji Shahjehan, said prices of other vegetables had either declined or remained unchanged because of frequent supplies from the producing areas.
He said tomato was selling at Rs4-5 per kg at the wholesale level because of increased supplies from the new Balochistan crop. However, retail rates are pegged to the last month’s level of Rs12 per kg.
The price of potato, arriving from Punjab’s cold storages and from new crop of Quetta and other parts of Balochistan, remained unchanged at Rs15 per kg, while it is selling between Rs13 and Rs14 per kg at the Subzi Mandi.
Number one quality of ginger, arriving from China, is selling at Rs70 per kg at the wholesale stage, while it is available at Rs80 in local markets. However, medium quality can be purchased at Rs60 per kg at the retail stage.
Garlic, arriving from China, India and the local crop, is selling at Rs25-30 per kg, while its retail price is Rs60 per kg.
Mr Shahjehan said that a meteoric rise in petroleum products’ prices would have a negative impact on prices of commodities, as transporters had started demanding higher rates for goods movement.
Sugar prices fell to Rs28 from Rs29 per kg on reports of duty-free imports of the commodity.
Poultry bird prices dropped to Rs60 from Rs68 per kg, while its meat is selling at Rs105, as compared to Rs115 per kg. However, egg prices have increased to Rs36 from Rs30 a dozen.
