Inflation crushes purchasing power

The continuous rise in inflation has economically crushed the public, with essential items, food commodities, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat, pulses, sugar and flour moving beyond the purchasing power of citizens.

People who once bought three to five kilograms of essential goods are now restricted to purchasing one kilogram or even half a kilogram.

Fruits have become completely unaffordable. Sunday bazaars, weekly markets and low-cost stalls have turned into outlets for stale and rotten vegetables due to unchecked price hikes.

Unannounced withdrawal of district administration, police and price magistrates from Sunday, Friday and Tuesday markets has also left their security arrangements unattended.

In the open market, sugar is being sold at Rs200 per kg, red flour at Rs160 per kg, white flour at Rs180 per kg, chicken meat at Rs600 per kg, mutton at Rs2,400-2,500 per kg, and beef at Rs1,600 per kg.

Milk is priced at Rs220 per litre, yoghurt at Rs240 per kg, red roti at Rs15, white roti at Rs30, naan at Rs35, paratha and roghni naan at Rs60.

Rice is being sold at Rs400 per kg, dal mash at Rs550, dal chana at Rs350, and white chickpeas at Rs410 per kg. Vegetable prices have also surged, with potatoes selling for Rs100 per kg, onions Rs180, lemons Rs300, peas Rs300, okra Rs250, radish Rs100, carrots Rs150, garlic Rs400, ginger Rs500, tomatoes Rs250, coriander Rs30 per bunch, green chillies and capsicum Rs250, and cauliflower Rs240.

Banana is being sold at Rs200 per dozen, citrus fruits at Rs200–250 per dozen, papaya at Rs400, Sundarkhani grapes at Rs650, Kandhari pomegranate at Rs700, apples at Rs200–300, guava at Rs250, and persimmons at Rs250 per kg.