Islamabad: prices of essential kitchen items show rising trend
Within the past one and half month, the government has increased the price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) oil mainly used for transportation purposes from trains to trucks, buses and trailers by Rs29 per litre and petrol mainly used by private and small vehicles by Rs19 per litre. The increase in fuel prices has played a major role in escalating the prices as transportation cost has jumped up by at least 10 per cent during the period which not only resulted in increasing the prices of daily use items but also edible items from vegetables, meat, eggs to fruits.
An increase was noted in chicken prices as it went up from Rs16,000 to Rs16,400 per 40kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs440 per kg and chicken meat at Rs700 per kg. Eggs' price went up from Rs7,000 to Rs7,300 per carton of 30 dozen which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs260-275 against Rs250-260 per dozen.
Sugar price went down from Rs9,100 to Rs8,800 per 50kg bag in the wholesale market, while in retail it is being sold at 190 per kg.
Wheat flour price remained unchanged as the best quality wheat flour ex-mill price per 15kg bag is at Rs1,100 which in retail is being sold at Rs1,150 per 15kg bag and normal quality wheat flour per 15kg bag is available at Rs1,000 which in retail is being sold at Rs1,050 per bag.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Business Recorder
BYD launches Shark 6 PHEV at a price of Rs19.95mn
BYD Pakistan launched on Friday its Shark 6 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) - the country's first PHEV in the pickup truck segment - at a price of Rs19.95 million. BYD officials and auto sector experts believe the launch of Shark 6 PHEV will help fill the market gap, while attracting customers through its comfort, features, and luxury in comparison with other pickup trucks. Talking to Business Recorder earlier this week, PakWheels co-founder Suneel Munj said because of poor road infrastructure and for want of a proper charging network, PHEV was being launched so that commuters could use both plug-in hybrid and engine.
Business Recorder
8 hours ago
- Business Recorder
‘Cruel initiative': Farmers call for end to 45% agricultural income tax
Small and progressive farmers have called for abolishing the 45% agricultural income tax, describing it as a cruel initiative that will annihilate the entire agriculture sector given they have been dealing with 20%-50% underpricing of agricultural produce since the last couple of years. These farmers have said they will challenge the tax in the courts while declaring it as 'illegal' and 'unconstitutional'. Moreover, the farmers say they already been paying 5% to 15% agricultural income tax and advance agricultural income tax worth Rs200 per acre since 1994. IMF agreed to spare agriculture sector from taxes, says PM Shehbaz Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) Senior Vice President Nabi Bux Sathio told Business Recorder: 'Let me dispel common misconception of industrialists and trade bodies that agriculturalists do not pay taxes.' 'We are paying taxes since 1994 while we are not given loans by banks and no privileges like special industrial zones or special export zones etc by the government. Has the government any justification to increase agricultural income tax from 15% to 45%, while agricultural produce in the range of Rs600,000 is exempted from the tax?' He said industrialists, wholesalers and retailers can fix prices of their products but agriculturalists are at the mercy of the market. SCA rejects '45pc agricultural income tax' 'We are getting low prices for our agricultural produce since Jan 2024 - around 19 months. We are getting 20%to 50% less money for wheat, paddy (rice), cotton, oil seed crops and others. However, we have got a better price of sugarcane.' 'There are three main inputs for crops such as seeds, fertilizers and diesel. I get a 50 kg bag of DAP [phosphatic fertilizer] at Rs9,000, urea at Rs2,600, 1kg of hybrid rice seed at around Rs1,500, per litre diesel at Rs186 in 2023, while they are right now being sold at Rs13,000, Rs4,400,Rs2,000 and Rs286 respectively at a local market,' he added. Farmers Organisation Council Sindh Chairman Jawaid Junejo said there is a plan to destroy the agriculture sector which may bring about food insecurity in the country. He said the government must review its decision and give relief to farmers so that they may grow crops which can benefit the country and countrymen.
Business Recorder
16 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Economic challenges: Focus on root causes and sustainable steps urged
KARACHI: The Chairman of the National Business Group Pakistan, the President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, the President of All Karachi Industrial Alliance, the Chairman of the FPCCI Advisory Board, Mian Zahid Hussain said the real solution to Pakistan's economic challenges lies in addressing rootcauses and implementing long-term measures. Relying on temporary measures that may mask underlying economic vulnerabilities is not a sustainable path to long-term prosperity. He stated that dollar scarcity suggests that some fundamental economic problems remain unchanged; therefore, the government should focus on enhancing productive capacity, diversifying exports, and increasing investment. Long-term solutions are crucial for sustainable economic growth. Although Pakistan is currently under an IMF program and its respect and dignity have increased globally, there is no significant foreign investment visible in the domestic economy. The real solution lies in increasing exports and competitiveness. Without export expansion, the surplus does not represent genuine economic progress. This emphasis on the need for export expansion is crucial for enhancing Pakistan's global economic standing. He emphasized that the recent achievement of a current account surplus comes at a crucial time for Pakistan, as the country seeks to demonstrate economic resilience while managing external debt obligations and working toward sustainable fiscal stability. He said that the historic increase in remittances from overseas Pakistanis is welcome, which resulted in Pakistan's current account surplus of $2.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. He congratulated the Prime Minister and Finance Minister on this achievement, which came 14 years after the previous one; however, he warned that this improvement is temporary and should not be considered an indication of sustainable economic stability. He noted that according to the State Bank, remittances have pushed foreign exchange reserves to $14.5 billion. Mian Zahid Hussain emphasized that remittances from overseas Pakistanis are a blessing. However, these cannot substitute for reforms and productive capacity, and relying on them could prove dangerous. He emphasized the urgency of converting the $29 billion trade deficit into a surplus. With exports stagnating at the $32 billion level, Pakistan is among the weakest countries in global competitiveness. The current account deficit has decreased due to discouraging imports of goods; however, this has adversely affected the local industry, which relies on importing raw materials and components. The strategy of import discouragement has impacted production, increased unemployment, and affected exporters' global competitiveness. He emphasized the need for long-term measures to address economic challenges. He termed the repeated reliance on loan rollovers from China, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, along with import controls, as an unstable strategy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
