KARACHI, Aug 9: Prices of various fruits have surged sharply as heavy rains in the northern areas have suspended their transportation. Worsening law and order situation in these areas has also made an impact on prices.
Taking advantage of the situation, the retailers have raised prices at will since there has been no check on prices, and they feel free to fleece consumers.Instead of stepping in to check prices, the government has, so far, been watching the persistent increase quietly at a time when Ramazan is just 23 days away. Fruits are considered to be the basic menu for Iftar.
By pushing up rates to a peak level, the retailers would now have a good chance to build pressure on the city government for fixing official rates for the holy month during their pre-Ramazan meeting.
A retailer said that Sundarkhani grapes, arriving from Balochistan, are now being sold at Rs120 per kg as compared to Rs80 per kg last week, while in areas like Burnes Road, it sells at Rs150 per kg.
He said that peach, which used to arrive in abundance from Swat, now sells at Rs80 per kg as compared to Rs60 per kg last week, while in posh areas, it is available at Rs100 per kg.
The price of apple (good quality) has surged to Rs60 from Rs40 per kg while at Burnes Road and Tariq Road areas, it is being sold at Rs80 per kg.
A good quality Chaunsa mango, whose peak arrival season has come to halt from Punjab due to end of crop, now sells at Rs60 as compared to Rs40-45 per kg, while another high quality is available at Rs80 per kg as compared to Rs60 per kg.
The retailer said there was some relief in Banana prices as its prices have fallen slightly after start of Sindh crop.
He said that a good quality banana, which used to sell at Rs50-60 per dozen, now costs Rs40 per dozen.
The price of plum has surged to Rs150-200 per kg as compared to Rs80-100 owing to end of its crop. However, in some areas, retailers are demanding Rs120 per kg.
Retailers in some areas are expecting a further increase in fruit prices in Ramazan.
They said when they are already procuring items at higher rates from the Wholesale Fruit Market on Super Highwa, how could they sell them at reduced rates.
Apart from the problem of supply from the up-country, dealers at the fruit market said several increases in diesel prices have pushed up transportation cost.
They said a 10-wheeler truck, which used to charge Rs30,000-36,000 from Swat to Karachi one-and-a-half month back, was now charging Rs55,000 after an increase in diesel rate.
A truck owner from Rahim Yar Khan to Karachi, now charges Rs40,000-45,000 as compared to Rs25,000 some time back.
In case of peach, its price has surged to Rs200-250 per 10 kg pack from Rs100-150 owing to negligible supply from Swat, coupled with bad condition of roads after rains. However, some quantity is arriving through Peshawar and Balochistan, but supply is slow due to rains, said a fruit merchant.
The arrival of apple from Balochistan has dropped by 60 per cent as rains have devastated roads. The high quality 14-15 kg wooden box of apple (Gaja) now costs Rs800. The black Chaunsa is selling at Rs60 per kg in wholesale fruit market.
The price of an eight to 10 kg wooden box of high quality Chaunsa now sells at Rs400-500 as compared to Rs200-250 at the start of arrival. Its price has risen due to slow transportation from the Punjab and because of end of its season.
When an average quality Chaunsa had arrived in the market at Rs180-250 per 10 kg box, the retailers had sold it for over Rs40 per kg.
