Tomato prices in Pakistan have surged dramatically, with Islamabad witnessing rates as high as Rs380 per kilogram. Other cities are also facing high prices: Rs360 in Rawalpindi, Rs350 in Faisalabad, Rs340 in Lahore, and Rs320 in Gujranwala and Sialkot. This spike follows the impact of severe floods, which disrupted the agricultural supply chain.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), overall weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), rose by 0.56% for the week ending October 2, 2025.
The SPI now stands at 332.17 points, up from 330.32 the previous week—a 4.07% year-on-year increase. The index tracks prices of 51 essential items across 17 cities.
For low-income groups earning up to Rs17,732 monthly, inflation rose by 0.82%. Other income brackets also experienced increases, ranging from 0.49% to 0.76%.
During the week, prices of 19 items rose, 12 fell, and 20 remained unchanged. Tomatoes led the price hikes with a 46.44% increase. Other rising items included petrol, diesel, garlic, onions, and mutton. Meanwhile, items like chicken, bananas, pulses, and LPG saw price drops.
