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  • Nov 4th, 2005
  • Comments Off on Prices of essential items go up further
Prices of essential items that had gone up in the beginning of Ramazan suddenly went up further on Thursday to about 30 to 40 percent from what was existing till Wednesday.

A survey of the meat market showed that mutton was being sold at Rs 240 to Rs 260 per kg as compared to Rs 220 to Rs 240 per kg, beef boneless at Rs 160 per kg as compared to Rs 120-140 per kg and dressed chicken at Rs 16o per kg instead of Rs 110 per kg.

The consumption of fish (dhotar, mushka, hira and surmai are some of the popular variety people generally buy) had substantially gone down during the holy month of Ramazan and good quality fish was available in the market, at an average, at Rs 110-120 per kg.

Prices of all these varieties have gone up - dhotar from Rs 100 per kg to Rs 140 per kg, mushka Rs 75 per kg to Rs 90-100 per kg, hira from Rs 110 to Rs 140 per kg and surmai from Rs 120 to Rs 145 per kg.

VEGETABLE: The vegetable market showed that tomato was being sold at Rs 30-40 per kg instead of Rs 20 per kg, onion at Rs 10 instead of Rs 6 per kg, prices of lattice had gone down from Rs 10 per kg to Rs 6 per kg, cucumber at Rs 24 per kg as compared to Rs 16 per kg, cauliflower at Rs 30 per kg instead of Rs 20 per kg and potato at Rs 20 as compared to Rs 15 per kg.

There was no price fluctuation in respect of garlic and ginger imported from China. Cabbage and spring onion that were extensively used in pakora were available in plenty and on reduced prices.

FRUITS: With the departure of Ramazan fresh fruits have appeared on the market. The rotten stuff that was being sold during Ramazan was now being treated as left over and available at reduced prices.

Fresh stock of good quality apple was quoted at Rs 50-60 per kg as compared to Rs 40 per kg, kiki or humlog or Japani phul at Rs 30 per as compared to Rs 25 per kg, banana was being sold at Rs 25-30 per dozen, melon at Rs 30-35 per dozen as compared to Rs 20 per dozen and pomegranate at Rs 40 per kg.

Milk was in short supply on Thursday evening and people were seen queued at milk shops that was being sold at Rs 28 per liter and curd at Rs 38 per kg.

As the demand of milk has gone up so was the effect on its quality. Pure or less adulterated milk was not available, as the supply of milk remained restricted to what it was during Ramazan whereas its demand increased by almost 100 percent.

Milk seller said that demand of milk and curd almost double on Eidul Fitr whereas the supply remains the same. This increase in demands compels milk distributors to add water and other things to increase its quantity. Auction in the wholesale milk market is still continuing at Rs 10-12 per kg.

Demand for bakery products and sweetmeats has also gone up but prices are stable. Kachuri and dalmot are the two most sought after products.

The increasing trend of asking for eidi has become so common that in spite of fleecing and profiteering sellers of meat, vegetable, and fruit ask for eidi and refuse to accept less than Rs 50 as edi. At an average a family of seven members spends Rs 1500 only on this kind of shopping.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005


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