Prices of eggs, tea & tomatoes shoot up

Rawalpindi

The prices of eggs, tomatoes and tea have gone up alarmingly but the city district government is not taking stern action against the rising prices of these commodities. The price of tea has shot up by Rs100 per kilogram from Rs680 to Rs780, eggs by Rs48 per dozen from Rs80 to Rs128 and tomatoes by Rs90 from Rs40 to Rs130 per kilogram.

It is worth mentioning here that four days back tomato was selling at Rs40, but now it is available at Rs130 per kilogram in Sunday bazaars and retail shops. The tea rates have not only gone up in the open market but also at utility stores corporation (USC).

Eggs Wholesale Dealers Association Chairman Muhammad Ikram Abbasi warned an increase in egg prices in coming days. Rawalpindi-Islamabad Sabzimandi Tomato Wholesale Dealers Association Shahid Mansoor Malik told ‘The News’ that they are facing shortage of tomatoes for some days therefore prices have gone up. He admitted four days back tomatoes were selling at at Rs35-40 per kilogram. “If shortage of commodity continues, prices will further shoot up,” he warned.

It is worth mentioning here that after increasing the rates of (branded) packed and open tea, all hotels and ‘dhabas’ have increased the rate of a cup of tea by Rs2. All Pakistan Tea Wholesale Dealers Association Senior Representative Israr Ahmed admitted all facts and figures and said that tea prices have increased due to high demand in the winter season. He also claimed that they are facing shortage of tea nowadays therefore prices are increasing continuously. He also said that they are following the rates given by multi-national companies.

Special Price Magistrate Sohail Maqbool said: “We are continuously taking action against profiteers and hoarders. We are not only imposing fines but registering FIRs as well against profiteers and hoarders.”