KARACHI, Feb 1: Consumer took a sigh of relief in the last month as prices of most of the items, except for increase in sugar by Rs three, tomatoes by Rs4 per kg, arhar pulse by Rs2 per kg etc , either remained pegged to their previous months' level or declined.
Sugar prices jumped to Rs26 from Rs23 per kg in the retail market owing to rising trend at wholesale prices. Tomato prices also jumped to Rs24 from Rs20 per kg while arhar registered a rise to Rs40 from Rs38 per kg, a market survey from January 1, 2005 to February 1, 2005 revealed.
Prices of poultry dipped to Rs70 from Rs84 per kg. However, the rate of Rs70 has been quoted by the Karachi Wholesalers' Poultry Association (KWPA) as against the rate of Rs 66 issued by Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA).
These two associations had been battling over the price fixation issues for the last many years claiming that their prices drive the market. General Secretary KWPA, Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui claimed that majority of city markets have KWPA's notified rates which is the main body responsible for issuing prices of poultry products.
Poultry meat is selling at Rs115 on February 1 as compared to Rs140 on January 1, 2005 while egg prices are unchanged at Rs47 a dozen. He said that the prices of poultry products had fallen due to thin demand as people have still got beef and mutton of slaughtered animals in their freezers and refrigerators.
While egg prices will remain under pressure on account of rising demand in winter season. Huge egg shipments are also finding way into Afghanistan through illegal and legal channels.
Potato price has fallen to Rs10 from Rs12 per kg because of frequent supplies from the new crop while onion prices have remained unchanged on account of better supplies from the new crop.
Ginger prices have also declined to Rs96 from Rs100 per kg while garlic unchanged at Rs40 per kg. No change has been seen in the prices of pulses which can be seen at the price comparison chart presented here.
Advisor to Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA), Anis Majeed said that the prices of majority of pulses have remained stabilised in the last one month due to thin demand.
He said that gram pulse crop is expected to remain between 850,000-900,000 tons this year due to timely rains in the producing areas as against the last year's production of 550,000 tons. The new crop will arrive in March.