WORLD NEWS | Pak Reels, basic food prices head north: report

Islamabad [Pakistan]Jan 8 (ANI): Factors such as rising import and transportation costs, crop availability, gap between supply and demand, hoarding, exchange rate issues, and ongoing economic crisis have led to uncontrolled inflation in Pakistan, even for basic food items, Dawn reported, adding Things got worse after floods hit the country last year.

According to the report, the ballooning inflation is largely attributable to Karachi’s zero food production and reliance on the interior of Sindh province.

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The report quoted data released by the Pakistan Statistics Bureau (PBS) as pointing out that the price of 20 kilograms of flour in Karachi soared to a record high of 2,800 Pakistani rupees to 3,000 Pakistani rupees. The same fee is PKR 1,295 in Islamabad, Lahore and Gujranwala and PKR 1,300 to PKR 2,880 in Larkana, Sukkur and Hyderabad.

In terms of pulses, the country is facing a similar price spiral, with prices in Quetta, Moong at Rs 300-310 per kg and in other cities at Rs 210-280 per kg. According to Dawn, the price of gram is reaching Rs 280-290 per kg in Quetta, while in Karachi it is Rs 220-260 per kg and in other cities it is Rs 200-250.

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Potatoes are currently priced at PKR 35-90 per kg while onions are priced between PKR 180-220 per kg. With Rs 180-190 in Karachi, Rs 150-180 in Peshawar, Rs 110-120 in Bahawalpur, Rs 170-180 in Islamabad, Rs 120 in Sialkot and Rs 130-160 in Lahore Bulk milk prices in Lacana are also Rs 180-200 higher per litre. .

After Pakistan was hit by devastating floods last August, the price of basic food items became even more unaffordable for ordinary people.

Fewer volumes are entering the market from producing areas and prices are higher, the report said, adding that government efforts to import onions from other countries have also failed to reduce prices.

Prices of non-vegetarian essentials have also increased in Karachi, with mutton at Rs 1,500-1,800 per kg, compared with Rs 1,100-1,500 in Peshawar and Rs 1,250 in Larkana, Dawn reported.

The Dawn further noted that in Khuzdar, the price of live broiler chicken is Rs 460 per kg, while in Quetta it is Rs 410-450 and in Karachi it is Rs 390-420. In Peshawar and Islamabad, the prevailing price for broilers is Rs 375 and Rs 390-400 respectively.

Raouf Ibrahim, chairman of Karachi wholesaler Grocery Group, was quoted by Dawn as saying that the port city is a hub for importing beans, which are then transported to factories for finishing before being shipped to various cities, so due to transportation costs Huge price difference. The same happens when local crops arrive at factories and are then distributed to different regions with different transport costs.

The price spiral for wheat and flour is getting worse every day, especially in Karachi, Balochistan and Peshawar, the report said.

The report quoted Ibrahim as saying that with two months to go before the fresh harvest, the government should allow the private sector to import large quantities of wheat to control rising flour prices. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)