KARACHI: Prices of vegetables and fruits in the port city have experienced a notable surge in the days leading up to Ramadan, with the government struggling to curb the escalating costs.
According to a report in the Daily Dawn Karachi, the price of onions, for instance, has surged from Rs150 per kg to as much as Rs300, with some retailers offering a slight relief at Rs250 per kg.
This increase in onion prices, a crucial ingredient in Ramadan diets, is primarily attributed to unchecked exports, despite efforts to balance the demand-supply equation by importing onions from Afghanistan and Iran.
A wholesaler at the Karachi Superhighway’s New Fruit and Sabzi Mandi revealed that out of the 130 trucks of Sindh onions received a day ago, 100 were allocated for exporters, leaving only 30 trucks for local consumption.
Other essential items have also witnessed significant price hikes. Potatoes, another popular item during Ramadan, now cost Rs80 per kg compared to Rs50 earlier. Cabbage has surged to Rs150 per kg from Rs80-100, while green chilies now sell at Rs320 per kg compared to Rs200.
Capsicum has doubled in price to Rs400 per kg, although spinach rates remain unchanged at Rs80-100 per kg.
Amid the absence of effective price monitoring, consumers fear more challenging days during Ramadan, set to commence early next week.
The fruit market has not been exempt from these price increases, affecting melons, apples, and bananas.
Melon (kharbooza) now costs Rs150-200 compared to Rs100-120, while green kullu and red golden apples are now available at Rs200-250 and Rs350-400 per kg, respectively, up from Rs150 and Rs300.
The cost of small-sized bananas has risen from Rs80 to Rs120 per dozen, whereas high-quality large bananas are now sold at Rs200 per dozen compared to Rs120-150 earlier.
A fruit vendor claimed that the wholesale price of 35 to 40 dozen bananas has jumped to over Rs5,000 from Rs2,800-3,000 a few days back.
Guava’s retail price is now Rs150-200 per kg versus its wholesale rate of Rs110-120 per kg.
Agha Qadeem, president of the Karachi Fresh Fruits Association at Super Highway, reported a 30-40% rise in the price of fruits in the wholesale market. Following this increase, he noted that a good-quality banana is available at Rs100 per dozen, while melon and watermelon 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 mentioned that the delayed arrival of melon and watermelon by 10-15 days might lead to a price fall by the 10th day of Ramadan due to an expected substantial arrival from interior Sindh.
“As for bananas, we have informed the Karachi commissioner about its smuggling to Iran and Afghanistan. Strict monitoring at the border to curb illegal outflow can help bring down local prices,” he said.
Mr. Qadeem urged the government to consider a ban on fruit exports during Ramadan to help alleviate prices in the local market.
Altaf A. Ghaffar, senior vice president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, echoed these concerns, calling on Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to implement stringent measures to combat the soaring prices of household items. In a statement, he criticized rampant profiteering and hoarding activities that exacerbate inflation, accusing both small shopkeepers and well-known department stores of ignoring official price lists and maximizing profits.
