Pindi food markets witness fresh price spiral

RAWALPINDI:

Persistent increases in petrol and diesel prices have triggered a fresh surge in the prices of essential food items across Rawalpindi, with vegetables, fruit, pulses, rice and other daily necessities becoming more expensive on an almost daily basis.

Despite the Deputy Commissioner's issuance of revised official price lists for essential commodities, particularly pulses, price magistrates have largely failed to enforce the notified rates, allowing retailers to continue selling goods well above the prescribed prices.

Market surveys showed that milk was being sold at Rs250 per kilogram, while yoghurt reached Rs280 per kg. White chickpeas were priced at Rs410 per kg, gram pulse at Rs390 per kg, and cooking oil and ghee pouches at around Rs560 per kg.

Among meat products, mutton was retailing at Rs2,700 per kg, while beef was available at Rs1,500 per kg. Rice was selling for around Rs400 per kg, whereas tea was priced between Rs2,000 and Rs2,700 per kg. Gram flour (besan) was available at Rs330 per kg, while black gram (mash) was selling at Rs680 per kg.

Vegetable prices also remained elevated. Potatoes were selling for Rs50 per kg, onions Rs100, peas Rs300, tomatoes Rs300, cauliflower Rs150, bitter gourd Rs120, Chinese carrots Rs120, capsicum Rs300, green chillies Rs100, taro root Rs100, indigenous lemons Rs200, ginger Rs350, garlic Rs300, and okra Rs180 per kg.

Even fresh coriander, which is often provided free with vegetable purchases, was being sold separately for Rs60 per small bunch. Chicken was retailing at around Rs550 per kg.