Prices of essentials soar

RAWALPINDI:

A fresh wave of inflation has hit the open market following the presentation of the federal budget, causing increasing concern among consumers.

Pulses, vegetables, fruits, rice and other essential commodities have become more expensive, while cigarettes have disappeared from the market.

In the open market, eggs are being sold at Rs220 per dozen, chicken at Rs600 per kilogram, white chickpeas at Rs440 per kilogramme, gram pulse at Rs390 per kilogramme, mash pulse at Rs600 per kilogramme, red beans at Rs500 per kilogramme, sugar at Rs160 per kilogramme, rice at Rs400 per kilogramme, milk at Rs250 per litre, yoghurt at Rs280 per kilogramme, beef at Rs1,500 per kilogramme and mutton at Rs2,700 per kilogramme.

Potatoes are selling at Rs40 per kilogramme, onions at Rs70 to Rs80, tomatoes at Rs100, peas at Rs200, cauliflower at Rs250, garlic at Rs250 to Rs300, ginger at Rs300 to Rs350, coriander at Rs30 per bunch, arvi at Rs200, cucumber at Rs70, radish at Rs40, carrots at Rs70 to Rs80, green chillies at Rs200 and lemons at Rs300 per kilogramme.