RAWALPINDI:
Following a hike in petrol, diesel, kerosene and transport prices, prices of all food items, essential raw materials, vegetables, fruits and staples have risen sharply in the open market, dampening Eid shopping and spoiling the festive mood of low-income and government employees.
Prices at low-cost facilitation markets, carts and pushcart bazaars have also doubled, while the price control system has become ineffective.
In the open market, prices of all varieties of pulses, rice and spices have increased by Rs30 to Rs50 per kilogram.
There is no wholesale market for grain in Rawalpindi, and all groceries and wheat are transported from Sargodha and Faisalabad, where transport charges are doubled.
The chairman of the Grocery Traders Association has demanded that the price control committee call a meeting to determine new prices for pulses, rice, sugar, flour and other goods.
In the open market, white chickpeas are sold at Rs 450 per kg, red beans at Rs 440 per kg, mash pulse at Rs 550 per kg, gram pulse at Rs 360 per kg and moong pulse at Rs 340 per kg.
Flour is available at Rs155 per kg, refined flour at Rs165 per kg and gram flour at Rs350 to Rs380 per kg. Juice is sold at Rs1,000 per bottle.
Among fruits, apples are sold at Rs300 to Rs400 per kg, guava at Rs250 to Rs300 per kg, pomegranate at Rs700 to Rs800 per kg, strawberries at Rs650 per kg, grapes at Rs700 to Rs800 per kg, paprika at Rs400 per kg. kg watermelon and Rs 400 per kg watermelon. Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kg.
Bananas are sold at Rs200 to Rs300 per dozen, while kinnow, malta and oranges are priced between Rs300 and Rs400 per dozen. Chinese pears are sold at Rs 500 per kg and coconut at Rs 500 per piece.
Chicken meat is sold at Rs 520 per kg, mutton at Rs 2,500 per kg and beef at Rs 1,400 per kg.
