Prices of essential commodities skyrocket

RAWALPINDI:

The dire economic conditions of the country are reflected in the steep rise in prices of petroleum products as well as prices of all grocery items including pulses, ghee, oil, white gram, vegetables and fruits.

Dry fruits have become unaffordable for people this year due to soaring prices. The peanut, one of the popular dry fruits among people of all ages, has hit an all-time high of Rs 800 per kilogram.

New taxes, customs duties and transportation charges have collectively played a role in the surge in dry fruit prices. People at government offices, shops, streets, and in neighbourhoods could be seen snacking on groundnuts, jaggery, and rewari. Many families are now enjoying broth and soup late into the night after sunset.

In the open market, daal mash is going for Rs600 per kg, gram daal for Rs400 per kg, white gram for Rs420 per kg, normal ghee oil for Rs500 per kg, better quality ghee oil for Rs530 per kg, red beans for Rs400 per kg, milk for Rs220 per litre, yoghurt for Rs240 per kg, mutton for Rs2,300 per kg, beef for Rs1400 per kg, eggs for Rs320 per dozen, desi eggs for Rs600 per dozen and chicken meat for Rs750 per kg.

Vegetables have also seen an increase in prices. Potatoes are being sold at Rs120 per kg, onions at Rs140 per kg, tomatoes at Rs130 per kg, peas at Rs350 per kg, garlic at Rs650 per kg, ginger Rs 600 per kg, green chillies at Rs 350 per kg, bitter gourd (karela) at Rs130 per kg, carrots at Rs110 per kg, okra at Rs120 per kg, arvi at Rs200 per kg, cucumber at Rs80 per kg, Chinese lemons between Rs100 and Rs150 per kg, local lemons at Rs600 per kg, turnips at Rs100 per kg and green coriander at Rs40 per bundle.

As for fruits, apples are selling between Rs200 to Rs350 per kg, bananas between Rs120 to Rs150 per dozen, Malta Musammi for Rs200 per dozen, mithhey for Rs300 per kg, pears for Rs300 per kg, toffee and round grapes for Rs300 per kg, sundarkhani grapes for Rs600 per kg and pomegranates for Rs300 per kg.