Inflation spikes amid food supply halts

RAWALPINDI:

A surge in inflation has erupted in the open market, Sunday and Sastay Sahulat bazaars, due to the complete halt in supply of food items caused by road closures that were in place during the past three days.

Vegetables, fruits, chicken, meat and lentils' prices have risen beyond the reach of consumers. For the last three days, no essential supplies were delivered throughout the district due to the closure of vegetable and fruit wholesale markets. As a result, prices in the open market have skyrocketed.

Price of potatoes has risen to Rs140 per kg, onions are being sold at Rs180 per kg, tomatoes at Rs200 per kg, peas at Rs400 per kg, and even small bundles of green coriander, which were previously given complimentarily, are now selling for Rs50 apiece. Garlic is priced at Rs650 per kg, ginger at Rs800, lemons at Rs600, bitter gourd at Rs210, cucumber at Rs180, radish pat Rs200, carrots at Rs180, taro at Rs250 and ladyfinger at Rs150 per kg. Apples are priced between Rs200 to 350 per kg, Sundarkhani grapes at Rs600 per kg, pomegranate at Rs300 per kg, melons at Rs130 per kg, Nawabpuri mangoes at Rs350 per kg, peas at Rs250 per kg, bananas at Rs150 per dozen, sweet oranges at Rs200 per dozen and peaches at Rs350 per kg.

Chicken is selling for Rs740 per kg, eggs at Rs305 per dozen, milk at Rs220 per Liter, yoghurt at Rs240 per kg, mutton at Rs2,400 per kg, and beef at Rs1,400 per kg. Chickpeas are selling for Rs350 per kg, white chickpeas for Rs400, red kidney beans for Rs420 and split black gram for Rs600 per kg. It is expected that the reopening of the vegetable and fruit markets today may lead to a decrease in prices.