Food prices remained well above official rates in Karachi this week despite lower petrol and diesel prices. Vegetables, fruits and poultry continued to sell at higher market rates, limiting relief for consumers.
KARACHI: Retail prices of essential food items remained significantly above official rates this week even after recent cuts in petrol and diesel prices, with consumers seeing little benefit as vegetables, fruits and poultry continued to sell at higher market rates.
The district administration continued issuing official price notifications and maintained that market monitoring was under way, but retailers across the city were charging their own rates for most vegetables, fruits and poultry. The trend stood out because lower fuel prices would ordinarily reduce transport costs and help bring down rates for perishable goods, yet prices for many items either rose further or stayed well above the notified levels.
Poultry offered only limited relief. Official rates for live chicken fell by Rs25 to Rs274-288 per kg, although it was largely unavailable at those notified prices in the city. The official price of chicken meat dropped by Rs36 per kg to Rs417, but retailers were charging Rs470-520 per kg, while boneless chicken was selling for Rs800-850 per kg.
Vegetable prices remain above official rates
Several commonly used vegetables registered increases during the week. Soft-skin potatoes rose by Rs5 to an official price of Rs37-40 per kg, but were being sold for Rs60-80 per kg. Tomatoes saw one of the biggest jumps, climbing by Rs40 to an official rate of Rs160-170 per kg, while consumers were paying Rs220-280 per kg. Onion prices also increased by Rs5 per kg to Rs85-90, but market prices ranged from Rs100 to Rs130 per kg.
Among kitchen staples, local garlic increased by Rs5 per kg to Rs130-135 per kg, though retail prices stood at Rs180-200 per kg. Chinese garlic was officially priced at Rs320-335 per kg but was selling at around Rs500 per kg, while Harani garlic, fixed at Rs235-245 per kg, was retailing for Rs320-400 per kg. Thai ginger rose by Rs15 per kg to Rs295-310 per kg, with market prices hovering between Rs400 and Rs450 per kg.
The difference between official and retail rates continued across seasonal vegetables as well. Farm cucumbers remained fixed at Rs95-100 per kg but were selling for Rs140-150 per kg. Local cucumbers, officially priced at Rs47-50 per kg, were retailing at Rs120-130 per kg. Spinach remained fixed at Rs23-25 per kg but was being sold for Rs80-100 per kg.
Ladyfinger was one of the few items to show a decline in the official rate, falling by Rs20 per kg to Rs76-80 per kg, though it still retailed at Rs120-130 per kg. Green chillies increased by Rs10 per kg to Rs105-110 per kg and were selling at Rs150-160 per kg. Cabbage fell by Rs10 per kg to Rs47-50 per kg, yet retail prices remained at Rs120-140 per kg. Peas increased by Rs40 per kg to Rs181-190 per kg and were fetching Rs450-500 per kg in the market.
Fruit prices also remain high
Fruit prices also stayed well above official levels. Apples had official prices ranging from Rs105 to Rs380 per kg, but were selling for Rs250-600 per kg. A-grade bananas were fixed at Rs193-215 per dozen, while market prices were Rs300-350 per dozen.
Dates remained officially priced at Rs360-470 per kg but were being sold from Rs800 to Rs2,400 per kg. Different varieties of mangoes were fixed at Rs120-300 per kg, yet retail prices ranged from Rs200 to Rs450 per kg. Watermelon, officially priced at Rs37-40 per kg, was selling at Rs70-100 per kg.
The continued gap between official price lists and actual retail rates, despite lower fuel costs, underscored the lack of relief for consumers and highlighted the persistence of a mismatch between notified rates and market practice.
