Vegetable, fruit prices jump in Rawalpindi, tomatoes hit record Rs600

Apples sell for Rs250 to 350 per kg, grapes for Rs400 to 600 per kg

Small vegetable vendors have stopped selling tomatoes, peas, ginger, and garlic due to the high prices, whereas fluctuation in vegetable prices continues, tomatoes are being sold at Rs600 per kilogram in the suburban areas of Rawalpindi.

“The supply of tomatoes is low while demand is high, and tomatoes are no longer being imported from Afghanistan,” stated the President of the Sabzi Mandi Traders Union, Rawalpindi Ghulam Qadir. "Until the supply is fully restored, tomato prices will not decrease, and this surge will persist," he added.

Read: Vegetable prices shoot up in open market

Tensions along the Pak-Afghan border escalated in early October, when clashes broke out after Afghanistan opened unprovoked fire at multiple locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, prompting a swift and forceful response from the Pakistan Army. Several Afghan posts were destroyed and dozens of Afghan soldiers and militants were killed. However, a 48-hour ceasefire was agreed on at the behest of the Afghan government.

In the open market, tomatoes are being sold at Rs450 to Rs500 per kilogram. Garlic has reached Rs400 per kilogram, while ginger has risen to Rs750 per kilogram. Onions are priced at Rs120 per kilogram, and peas are retailing at Rs500 per kilogram. The price of capsicum has decreased to Rs300 per kilogram, with okra also selling at the same rate. Cucumbers are available for Rs150 per kilogram, and local red carrots for Rs200 per kilogram. Local lemons are priced at Rs300 per kilogram, while coriander, which was previously given free, now costs Rs50 for a small bunch.

Read more: Traders count losses as floods ravage markets

Among fruits, apples are selling for Rs250 to Rs350 per kilogram and grapes for Rs400 to Rs600 per kilogram. Pomegranates are priced at Rs400 per kilogram, while guavas cost Rs170 per kilogram. A single coconut is being sold for Rs400. In terms of dozen-based pricing, sweet oranges are priced between Rs250 and Rs300, and bananas cost Rs150 to Rs200 per dozen.

“Vegetables imported through the Wagah border from India are cheaper as compared to vegetables being imported from Iran,” stated Ghulam Mir. “Import of white onions from Iran failed, as their taste was not up to customers' standards,” he added.

Prices of vegetables in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have soared and have remained unmanageable for several days. Suburban areas are affected the most with tomato prices of Rs550 to Rs600 per kilogram.

Also read: Tomato prices surpass chicken meat in Karachi

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi, Hassan Waqar Cheema, announced that personally monitor wholesale vegetable auctions in the sabzi mandi starting Thursday. He said that the district administration officers will supervise the wholesale auction and sales process.

Currently, there are 30 price control magistrates in Rawalpindi district, and the government has begun temporarily granting first-class magisterial powers to officers and in-charges of various departments.