ISLAMABAD: Tomato prices across Pakistan have reached record highs, burdening households already struggling with inflation. Data collected from major urban markets and official rate lists show extraordinary retail spikes.
In Karachi, vendors are charging between Rs 500 and Rs 700 per kg, the highest in the country. In Lahore and Islamabad, rates hover between Rs 450 and Rs 550 per kg, while Quetta’s prices have shot up to Rs 300 per kg — nearly triple what they were just weeks ago.
Peshawar, too, reports prices of around Rs 240 per kg, despite being a key distribution hub for vegetables entering from Afghanistan.
Analysts and traders say such prices are unprecedented in Pakistan’s recent history. Typically, October brings seasonal relief when fresh crops from Sindh and Balochistan arrive, but this year, the expected decline never came.
City-by-City Breakdown
Karachi: Pakistan’s largest city has been hit hardest, with prices exceeding Rs 700 per kg in some markets. Traders blame declining arrivals from Sindh and Punjab, while cross-border flows remain limited.
Lahore: The provincial capital has seen tomatoes selling around Rs 450 per kg. Local traders attribute the surge to supply disruptions from southern Punjab and Balochistan, worsened by poor enforcement of price controls.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi: Retail rates have climbed above Rs450 and 500 per kg. Wholesalers say reduced supplies from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and border delays with Afghanistan have sharply cut market arrivals.
Peshawar: Tomatoes were selling near Rs 240 per kg — lower than other cities but still unusually high. The province depends heavily on imports from Afghanistan, which have been restricted due to ongoing border closures.
Quetta: In Balochistan’s capital, prices range between Rs 280 and Rs 300 per kg. The local crop is nearly exhausted, and many traders are sending what remains to Punjab and Sindh, where rates are higher.
Why Prices Are Soaring
Experts point to a perfect storm of factors behind the surge:
- Crop damage and floods: Heavy monsoon rains in Sindh and southern Punjab damaged fields and delayed harvests. The second tomato crop, typically planted in July-September, has been delayed or reduced in yield.
- Border closures: Tightened crossings with Afghanistan and restricted trade with India through Wagah have cut off vital tomato inflows. Normally, off-season shortages are offset by imports from these neighbours.
Transport bottlenecks: High fuel costs and limited trucking availability have raised the cost of moving produce from farms to urban centers.
Weak regulation: Provincial price control mechanisms remain ineffective, allowing wholesalers and retailers to charge far above official rates.
What Lies Ahead
Authorities expect some relief once Sindh’s fresh crop reaches the markets next month. However, traders warn that if cross-border trade remains sluggish and weather conditions worsen, the high prices may persist well into November.
Consumers, meanwhile, are adapting — buying smaller quantities or switching to alternatives such as tamarind or tomato paste. Economists caution that the ongoing spike highlights a deeper structural problem: Pakistan’s dependence on a narrow seasonal supply and vulnerable import routes.
Experts say that Pakistan’s tomato crisis underscores the fragility of its food supply chain. A mix of floods, crop delays, and disrupted borders has pushed a staple commodity beyond the reach of ordinary consumers — a rare but telling sign of how climate and geopolitics are reshaping daily life.
