Rising inflation increases prices of essentials

RAWALPINDI:

The tsunami of inflation which has gripped the country continues to rise unchecked. Due to backbreaking price hikes, Sunday markets, Sahoolat bazaars, and even cart sellers have begun to add to the public's unbearable expenses.

Families have been forced to reduce their routine purchases, going from a grocery haul of four to five kilogrammes (kg) of vegetables to one kg to half a kg. In the open market, prices of staple grocery items such as chickpeas have risen to Rs390 per kg, white chickpeas are being sold at Rs420 per kg, red kidney beans, at Rs450 per kg, black gram (dal mash), at Rs600 per kg, milk, at Rs220 per kg, yoghurt, at Rs240 per kg, mutton, at Rs2,300 per kg, beef, at Rs1,400 per kg, chicken meat, at Rs615 per kg, live chicken, at Rs415 per kg and eggs, at Rs306 per dozen. Potatoes are being sold at Rs110 per kg, onions, at Rs160 per kg and tomatoes between Rs100 to Rs130 per kg. Garlic is being sold at Rs570 per kg, ginger, at Rs600 per kg, radish, at Rs200 per kg, peas, at Rs350 per kg, taro (arvi), at Rs200 per kg, turnips, at Rs80 per kg, bitter gourd, at Rs190 per kg, lemons, at Rs600 per kg, Chinese lemons, at Rs450 per kg, green chillies, at Rs200 per kg, cauliflower, at Rs130 per kg and okra, at Rs100 per kg.

As for fruits, apples are being sold between Rs200 to 400 per kg and mangoes, between Rs300 to 350 per kg. Sundarkhani grapes are being sold at Rs500 per kg, melons, at Rs130 per kg, sweet oranges, at Rs200 per dozen, bananas, at Rs140 per dozen, pears, at Rs250 per kg, and guavas, at Rs200 per kg.