Prices of chicken, tomato, garlic go up in major cities

PM takes notice of sudden price-hike

LAHORE/KARACHI: Prices of chicken, garlic, tomato and various other kitchen commodities have registered an unusual hike in various cities including Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad during the past week.

The official price of chicken in Karachi is Rs190/kg but it is being sold for Rs210-230/kg. No price list is displayed by the sellers in order to demand rates of their own choice. Per kilogram price of tomato went up to Rs120 following a hike of Rs90 during in the past two weeks.

Similarly, in Lahore, chicken is being sold for Rs250/kg whereas the price of tomatoes has exceeded Rs120. The price hike is also witnessed in other cities amid no regulation by the authorities.

Sources said after the reopening of Pak-Afghan border, a mafia is taking away vegetables and poultry to Afghanistan due to which the prices of edible items have increased unexpectedly.

In Islamabad, tomato is being sold for Rs150 per kg, potato Rs70, cabbage Rs60, fresh bean Rs100, brinjal Rs100, while chicken meat for Rs370 per kg in the market. The per kilo price of green chillies went up to Rs120 per kilogram, following a hike of Rs80. Per kilo price of capsicum has reached Rs100 after an increase of Rs80, whereas the price of garlic and ginger went up to Rs340 and 200 per kilogram, respectively. Tomatoes are being sold in Islamabad's Sunday market at Rs130 per kilogram.

People said vegetables and other eatable items prices have been increased by 155% during the last three months. Traders of major markets in Capital including Melody, Jinnah Super and Super Market said that the purchase of vegetables had gone out of power of common man.

The hotel owners said that due to the current situation, they had to increase the prices of their dishes. The situation is no different in Peshawar as the per kilogram price of tomatoes reached Rs100 whereas potatoes are being sold for Rs40 per kilo. The rates of green chillies reached Rs120 per kilogram, while the price of capsicum went up to Rs100 per kilogram. Garlic costs Rs340 per kilogram while per kilo price of ginger has gone up to Rs200 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Sunday took notice of the extraordinary increase in the prices of eatables, according to PTV.