Exorbitant prices of dried fruits irk customers

PESHAWAR: With the start of winter, the shopkeepers in the provincial capital increased dried fruits’ prices due to lukewarm response of the district administration, forcing consumers to purchase the products on exorbitant and variable rates.

The prices of apricot peaches, almond, currants, pine nut, peanuts and pistachios soared 10 to 30 percent this year in Peshawar due to prolonged drought. The buying of these items is merely a wishful thinking for low income groups and common people.

With a decrease in mercury level, the demand of dried fruits increased in the city. At cantonment shops, the shopkeepers brought abundant of dried fruits to meet high demand from consumers.

Dozens of new dried fruits shops have been opened at Fawara Chowk, Ashraf Road, Peoples Mandi and Firdous area. The shopkeepers converted to this business owing to its high profits.

Shopkeepers said prolonged drought and rise in labour and transportation rates caused increase in prices of dried fruits. Most of the dried fruits are being transported from remote districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan and federally-administered tribal area.

The shopkeepers said they spend huge amount on transporting stocks to Peshawar.  A majority of customers are seen checking prices and returning with empty hands due to inflation.