| Kitchen items’ prices soar ahead of Ramazan |
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Prices at the Sunday bazaar rose slightly compared to the last week. The market committee is anticipating a major price spiral by next week after Ramazan sets in.
Prices of most of the vegetables registered a raise of Rs1 to Rs2 per kilogram. However, this hike was more pronounced in case of potatoes that shot up from Rs72 per 5 kg to Rs84 for an equal weight this week. In case of onions, there was an increase of Rs3 per 5 kg. Tomatoes went up by almost Rs5 per kilogram as they traded at Rs20 against Rs15 at last week’s Sunday bazaar. Traders were selling tomatoes at Rs20 per kilogram, though according to the rate list issued by the market committee the tomato rate is Rs15.
This anomaly was also seen in the rates of green pepper that was being sold at Rs20, though its official rate was Rs14. Garlic was being sold at Rs40 per kilogramme against official rate of Rs38.
Worst of all the quality of the vegetables and fruits in the market was pathetic and by any fair standards not consumable.
The purchasing power of the consumers has been drastically curtailed due to inflation and price hike and in contrast to the usual grandiose shopping lists the customers now purchase very limited items resulting in major cut in profit margins of the retailers.
In the wholesale market, buying has picked up after a long period of decreased business activity. However, traders say this year’s pre-Ramazan buying holds no comparison with the hectic activity witnessed last year during the same period.
Deliberating on the reasons for slum in the buying activity, the traders said the people have got little money for buying due to an overall recession prevailing in the country. The international campaign against terrorism, they maintained, has further impeded the business activity.
The items in wholesale market that have gone up recently are white flour, from Rs175 for a 20kg bag to Rs182, ghee from Rs680 a 16kg tin to Rs700.
Gram flour (Basin) of the best quality was being traded at Rs1480 per 40 kilogram, whereas substandard and adulterated gram flour was being sold from Rs600 to Rs700 per 40 kilogram. Gram (sofaid channa), which is used for preparing gram flour is being sold at Rs1260 per 40 kg. Gram flour is used in large quantities in Ramazan for preparing Pakoras, a traditional dish. The traders were expecting a further increase in the rates of gram, as its consumption increases greatly during Ramazan.
Sugar prices showed slight decrease and was available at Rs1030 per 40 kg. Rice (variety 386) was being sold at Rs540 per 40 kg, while variety 385’s rate for an equal amount was Rs700.
Prices of lentils per 40 kg were mash (Rs1340), moong (Rs990), surkh lobia (Rs1020), moon salam (Rs800) while that of dal channa was Rs1350.
Tehsil administration, in a meeting, discussed the price situation. A spokesman of Tehsil Municipal Administration said, the meeting decided that sasta bazaars would be set up in parks and open places where wholesalers would sell their commodities directly to the consumers.
It was further decided that traders selling commodities at inflated rates would be sent behind bars for six months, besides the fine and confiscation of goods.
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