KARACHI, Nov 12: Wholesalers and the city government have fixed higher prices of essential items for Ramazan as compared to previous holy month, in which gram and its related products and some rice qualities are taking the lead.
According to a price list, approved in a meeting between wholesalers, retailers and District Coordination Officer (DCO) Shafiqur Rahman Paracha on Saturday, the wholesale price of basin no.1 and no.2 qualities has been fixed at Rs35 and Rs28 per kg respectively as compared to Rs28 and Rs25 per kg in previous Ramazan.
“Just add Rs2 per kg in the approved wholesale price list while calculating the retail rates,” Mohammad Shakil, General Secretary, Karachi Wholesaler Grocers Group (KWGG), told Dawn on Monday.
“These are the final rates. We have sent the approved list to the printing press and our members will get it by November 15,” he added.
Basin no.1 and no.2 will be available at Rs37 and Rs30 per kg at retail level as compared to Rs29 and Rs26 per kg in last Ramazan.
According to the list, the wholesale price of black gram (kala channa) no.1 and 2 quality has been fixed at Rs34 and Rs32 per kg respectively as against Rs26 and Rs24 per kg. It means that retailers will charge Rs36 and Rs34 per kg as compared to Rs28 and Rs26 in last Ramazan.
Wholesalers will sell white gram special (Kabuli Channa) at a same price of Rs50 per kg prevailing in last Ramazan. It will be sold at Rs52 per kg in retail. Kabuli channa no.1 and no.2 quality will be tagged at Rs40 and Rs35 per kg respectively at wholesale as against Rs46 and Rs36 per kg. Its retail price has been fixed at Rs42 and Rs39 per kg from Rs48 and Rs38 per kg in last Ramazan.
The wholesale price of gram pulse VIP quality (Dal Channa) has been fixed at Rs38 per kg as compared to Rs32 per kg in last Ramazan. Consumer will pay Rs40 per kg to buy this quality as against Rs34 per kg.
Wholesalers will sell gram pulse no.1 and no.2 quality at rates of Rs34 and Rs33 per kg respectively as compared to Rs28.50 and Rs27 per kg. In retail, its prices have been fixed at Rs36 and Rs35 per kg from Rs30 and Rs29 per kg last year.
No change was seen in wholesale price fixation of masur no.1 and no.2 quality at Rs29 and Rs30 per kg respectively.
Mung (washed) will cost more in this Ramazan as its wholesale price for no.1 and 2 quality has been fixed at Rs28 and Rs26 per kg respectively from Rs23 and Rs21 last year. Retailers will demand Rs30 and Rs28 per kg as compared to Rs25 and Rs23.
Mash (washed) no.1 and no.2 quality at wholesale rate will be available at Rs36 and Rs34 per kg respectively as compared to Rs42 and Rs38, while these two qualities at retail stage can be purchased at Rs38 and Rs36 per kg from Rs44 and Rs40 last year.
In rice, wholesale prices have been fixed on both ways. For instance, Irri-9 at wholesale price will cost Rs12 per kg as compared to Rs11 per kg, while no change is seen in wholesale price of Irri rice (old) at Rs9 per kg.
Sugar price has not been fixed for Ramazan as the government, like previous Ramazan, will determine its rates on the daily basis keeping in view the demand and supply situations at the wholesale markets.
Price of sugar at wholesale is now Rs19.70 per kg and it is expected to come down as nine mills in Sindh have started sugarcane crushing and others may follow the suit. Currently at retail level, sugar is being sold at Rs22 per kg as compared to Rs28 in previous Ramazan. Carryover stocks in the country now stand at 0.5 million tons.
