ISLAMABAD: In the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, there has been a notable 28% surge in the prices of fruits and vegetables over the past two weeks, as per recent market surveys.
The market survey indicates that costs have gone up 28 percent over the past two months for a variety of fruits and vegetables, including apples, pomegranates, bananas, citrus, and oranges, as well as peas, cabbage, apple gourd, garlic, ginger, beans, cucumber, and carrots.
Fruits ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 280 for apples, Rs 350 to Rs 380 for pomegranates, Rs 140 to Rs 160 for bananas, Rs 220 to Rs 250 for citrus, and Rs 250 for oranges per dozen have been available for purchase since last week.
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Among vegetables, peas are priced at Rs 200 to 250, cucumbers at Rs 120, apple gourds at Rs 150, onions at Rs 200 to 210, and garlic and ginger at Rs 580 to 600 per kilogram.
Additionally, in the open market of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, poultry chicken is now being sold at Rs 400 to 420 per kilogram, while poultry eggs are priced at Rs 420 per dozen. The price of poultry chicken meat has surged to Rs 770 per kilogram. These poultry items have witnessed a 15% increase in prices in recent times.
Over the last three months, there has been a 13% rise in the price of poultry chicken and a 15% increase in the price of poultry eggs in the twin cities.
The Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) has advocated for further increase in chicken prices, aligning with observed market trends. Dr. Sarosh, an ex-president of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and representatives from the poultry feed industry emphasized the importance of soybeans in poultry feed formulation.
Concerns have been raised by citizens like Saeed Ahmed regarding the current inflation, particularly its impact on the middle class. They call upon the administration to establish a robust price control mechanism to alleviate the burden on consumers. –APP
