RAWALPINDI:
Following the increase in prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and transport fares, the prices of all food items, essential commodities, vegetables, fruits and groceries have increased sharply in the open market, dampening Eid shopping and spoiling the festive spirit of low-income and government employees.
Prices at low-cost facilitation markets, carts and cart 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 Rs 30-50 per kilogram.
There is no wholesale grain market in Rawalpindi and all groceries and wheat are transported from Sargodha and Faisalabad, where transport costs have doubled.
The president of the Grocery Merchants Association requested that the price control committee convene a meeting to determine new prices for pulses, rice, sugar, flour and other products.
In the open market, white chickpeas are sold at Rs 450 per kg, kidney beans at Rs 440 per kg, pureed pulses at Rs 550 per kg, gram pulses at Rs 360 per kg and moong pulses at Rs 340 per kg.
Flour is available at Rs155 per kg, refined flour at Rs165 per kg and gram flour between Rs350 to Rs380 per kg. The juice is sold at Rs 1,000 per bottle.
Among fruits, apples are sold between Rs 300 and 400 per kg, guava between Rs 250 and 300 per kg, pomegranate between Rs 700 and 800 per kg, strawberries between Rs 650 and 800 per kg, grapes between Rs 700 and 800 per kg, papaya between Rs 350 and 400 per kg and watermelon and melon between 200 and 400 Rs per kg. 250 Rs per kg.
Bananas are sold at Rs 200-300 per dozen, while kinnow, malta and oranges are sold at Rs 300-400 per dozen. Chinese pears are sold at Rs500 per kg and coconut at Rs500 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.
