Official fruit price lists ignore decline in wholesale rate in Karachi

Fruit prices go unregulated in the metropolis

KARACHI: Despite a considerable decline in the wholesale rate of fruits in the Sabzi Mandi, high prices of fruits are being shown in the price list issued by the commissioner.

Prices of fruits issued by the Sabzi Mandi market committee are being shared with the city administration with an increase by 20% to 30% in the rates.

The team responsible for preparing the price list is issuing the daily price list without looking into the changes provided by the market committee.

According to the vice-chairperson of the market committee, Asif Ahmed, there has been a considerable decline in the fruit rates in the Sabzi Mandi, but higher prices are still being mentioned in the price list issued by the commissioner's office.

In the Sabzi Mandi, watermelon is priced at Rs22 per kilogramme, sweet melon at Rs45 per kg and bananas at Rs130 per dozen. There has also been a considerable decline in the mango prices due to abundant supply. The cost of langra mangoes is Rs60 per kg in the market, the low quality langra mango is Rs30 per kg, while siroli is priced at Rs60 and the second grade siroli is Rs30 per kg. Sindhri is priced at Rs85 per kg with the second grade ones at Rs40 per kg and desi mangoes are priced at Rs50 per kg.



The fine quality of dusheri is priced at Rs60 per kg with the second grade one at Rs30 and the rate of chaunsa is fixed at Rs110 while its lower quality at Rs60.

The cost of peach is Rs180 per kg, its other quality at Rs120, apricot at Rs 50-60 per kg, king melon at Rs40 per kg, white apples at Rs120 and falsa at Rs60 per kg.

However, according to the government price list, the whole sale rate of bananas is Rs110-120 per dozen, the cost of falsa is Rs140 per kg, apple is Rs120 per kg and peach is Rs120-150 per kg.

The cost of melons in the government price list is fixed over Rs58-68 per kg in the market. The wholesale cost of langra is Rs58-78 per kg, siroli is Rs58-78 per kg, dusehri is Rs58-78 per kg, while sindhri is fixed at Rs100-120 per kg.



The wholesale rate of plum in the government price list is fixed at Rs120 with a 100% increase from the market price. The rate of chaunsa is fixed at Rs100-130 per kg.

Apart from the contradiction in the market and government price list, there has been a considerable decline in the cost of fruits across the city.

Melon and sweet melon is being sold with a difference of Rs20-30 from the first ashura. Bananas however, are being sold at high prices and are unavailable at government rates.

High quality peaches are being sold at Rs200, while the lower quality is being sold at Rs150. Apricot is being sold at Rs150-200, watermelon at Rs30-40 per kg, local apples at Rs150-200, Iranian apples at Rs200-250, while imported Europe apples are being sold at Rs400.



A 450 gram cherry box is being sold at Rs170-200, sindhri at Rs120-140 dusheri, siroli, and langra at Rs100 and desi mango at Rs70-80 per kg.