In Karachi where consumers already burdened by high utility bills are now facing increased inflation due to soaring prices of vegetables and fruits ahead of Ramazan, while the government’s efforts to control profiteering are deemed ineffective.
For example, the price of onions has risen sharply from Rs150 to Rs300 per kg, with some retailers offering a slight reduction at Rs250 per kg. This surge is attributed mainly to unchecked exports, despite efforts to balance supply by importing onions from Afghanistan and Iran.
At the New Fruit and Vegetable Market on Karachi Superhighway, out of 130 trucks of Sindh onions received recently, 100 were taken by exporters, leaving only 30 trucks for local consumption.
Other essential items have also witnessed notable price hikes. Potatoes, another popular item during Ramazan, now command Rs80 per kg compared to the previous Rs50. Cabbage has surged to Rs150 per kg from the previous range of Rs80-100, while green chillies are now priced at Rs320 per kg, up from Rs200.
Capsicum has doubled in price to Rs400 per kg, while spinach remains steady at Rs80-100 per kg.
Amid a lack of effective price monitoring, consumers express concerns about facing tougher times during Ramazan, set to begin early next week.
The fruit market has also been affected, with melons, apples, and bananas witnessing significant price hikes.
Melons (kharbooza) now range from Rs150-200, up from Rs100-120, while green kullu and red golden apples are now priced at Rs200-250 and Rs350-400 per kg, respectively, compared to Rs150 and Rs300.
Small-sized bananas now cost Rs120 per dozen, up from Rs80, while large bananas fetch Rs200 per dozen compared to the previous Rs120-150.
A fruit vendor noted that the wholesale price of 35 to 40 dozen bananas has soared to over Rs5,000 from Rs2,800-3,000 a few days ago.
Guava retails at Rs150-200 per kg, while its wholesale rate stands at Rs110-120 per kg.
Agha Qadeem, president of the Karachi Fresh Fruits Association at Super Highway, revealed that fruit prices in the wholesale market have risen by 30-40%.
He mentioned that after the wholesale price surge, good quality bananas are priced at Rs100 per dozen, while melons and watermelons are priced at Rs80-90 and Rs120-130 per kg, respectively. The average prices of green and red apples are Rs120 and Rs180 per kg.
Mr Qadeem highlighted the delayed arrival of melon and watermelon by 10-15 days and anticipated a price drop by the 10th of Ramazan due to an expected significant arrival from interior Sindh.
Regarding bananas, he informed about smuggling to Iran and Afghanistan and advocated strict monitoring at the border to curb illegal outflow, potentially reducing local prices. He urged the government to ban fruit exports during Ramazan to alleviate local market prices.
Altaf A. Ghaffar, senior vice president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, urged Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to implement stringent measures to address soaring household item prices. He criticized rampant profiteering and hoarding activities, accusing both small shopkeepers and well-known department stores of disregarding official price lists to maximize profits.