KARACHI, May 27: While the Pakistan People’s Party-led government is soon to present its fourth federal budget for fiscal year 2012-13, consumers have become the ultimate sufferers of a pre-budget price increase thanks to local and multinational companies which, as in the past, have begun racking money from the masses.
Dawn has conducted a comparative review of last year’s and the current prices of essential goods, including milk, ghee, pulses, meat, and found that the prices of almost everything have been increased manifold and it appeared that the government sits idle while the multinational and local companies pocketed huge profits.
The price of tetra pack milk rose to Rs90 from Rs80 a litre in the current month. In May 2011, the milk was available at Rs75 a litre.
Fresh milk producers increased the prices to Rs75 a litre in April 2012 from Rs70. In May 2011 fresh milk was selling at Rs68 per litre.
Till Feb 2012, 1kg Nido pack was sold at Rs560, which jumped to Rs590 in March 2012 while some retailers were charging Rs600. In May 2011, it was available at Rs520. Everyday tea whitener is now sold at Rs540 as compared to Rs500 in March 2012. In May 2011, it was selling at Rs450.
Till Feb 2012 Dalda’s five-litre cooking oil tin and five-kilo ghee tin were available at Rs995 as compared to the current rate of Rs1,010. In May 2011, these items were selling at Rs975. The 16-litre cooking oil tin and 16-kg ghee are now priced at Rs2,640 and Rs2,700 as compared to Rs2,580 and Rs2,460 in May 2011.
Leading tea packers also pushed up the rate. Tapal Danedar 190-gram pack now costs Rs125 as compared to Rs115 in March 2012. Unilever’s Yellow Label 190-gram pack is being sold at Rs135 as compared to Rs125 in March 2012.
Surf Excel 1kg pack price has been raised to Rs230 from Rs220 in March 2012.
After staying unchanged since May 2011, various varieties of rice suddenly became dearer in March 2011. Super Kernal Basmati, Kernal Basmati, Kernal Shaheen, Wind Basmati, Basmati 386 and Irri 6 are now being sold at Rs140, Rs135, Rs120, Rs115, Rs80 and Rs50 per kg, respectively, as compared to Rs125, Rs115, Rs100, Rs95, Rs70 and Rs40 per kg in February 2012.
Pulses rates showed a mixed trend in the last one year owing to production and shortage of local crop coupled with import trend and rupee devaluation. A sharp increase was seen in gram pulse rate from last year’s Rs68 to Rs120 a kilogram.
However, rates of other pulses had fallen. Masoor.1 and masoor 1 (whole) are now available at Rs86 and Rs74 a kilo as compared to Rs88 and Rs77 per kg in May 2011.
Moong washed and with chilka, which were selling at Rs145 and Rs130 per kg in May 2011, are now costing Rs125 and Rs110 per kg. The current retail rate of good quality mash and arhar is Rs93 and Rs145 as compared to Rs143 and Rs156 per kg in May 2011.
Due to good production of sugar, its retail rate fell to Rs53 from Rs66 a kilo in May 2011. Spices also became costlier with red chillies whole taking the lead to reach Rs680 per kg from Rs265 per kg in May 2011.Clove rate swelled to Rs1,600 per kg from Rs990 per kg. Black peppers rate rose to Rs860 per kg from Rs670. White cumin seed rate went up to Rs410 per kg from Rs320.
Despite a good wheat crop, the price of fine atta, atta 2.5 and chakki flour surged to Rs34, Rs33 and Rs36 from Rs32, Rs28 and Rs35 per kg.
Mutton now sells at Rs550-600 per kg depending on the area as compared to Rs480-520 per kg. Beef with and without bones is now available at Rs300-320 and Rs370-400 per kg as compared to Rs270-280 and Rs330-340 per kg, respectively.
One dollar was equal to Rs85.85 in May 2011 as compared to Rs91 this May. A 50kg cement bag now costs Rs445 as compared to Rs400 in May 2011.
The prices of petrol, diesel and CNG in May 2011 were Rs88.41 per litre, Rs97.31 per litre and Rs56.80 per kg, respectively, as compared to the current rate of Rs103.36 per litre, Rs107 per litre and Rs79.20 per kg.
Talking to Dawn, the general secretary of the Karachi Retail Grocers Group, Farid Qureishi, said the budget had lost its significance in terms of any price fluctuation on account of budgetary measures as the people were already paying high prices.
He said the prices of commodities had shown a record increase in the four years tenure of the PPP-led government. The buyers did not have extra money to make any surplus pre-budget purchases as they had to meet other running expenses such as paying utility bills and rising transportation charges, he added.
He urged the government to provide relief to the consumers in the 2012-2013 budget by reducing taxes and duties on petroleum and grocery products.
He said the rupee devaluation against dollar and high global oil prices had caused a negative impact on domestic prices of commodities but the government had never checked whether manufacturers were really passing the impact of currency and oil as per increase or they were making price increases in view of demand and supply situation.