KARACHI, Jan 9: While consumers continued to throng utility stores, chakkis and other outlets to fetch wheat flour amid the persisting shortage, they heaved a sigh of relief on Wednesday when prices of vegetables dropped remarkably to a reasonable level following arrival of fresh stocks from the interior of Sindh and Punjab.

Wholesalers said that vegetables prices were likely to remain stable for the time being as supplies from the producing areas had turned normal after a week of disturbances and bad weather conditions. They also ruled out an adverse affect on the supplies on account of rains continuing in certain parts of the country.

The prices of vegetables had gone up considerably soon after the Dec 27-30 disturbances during which a large number of trailers and trucks carrying the stocks had been looted or set on fire while on way to Karachi. The unrest also led to the suspension in the supplies for several more days.

According to a survey, onion was selling at Rs12 per kg at retail side on Wednesday. The price had gone up to Rs25-30 per kg last week. The wholesale price of onion now ranges between Rs6 per kg as compared to Rs10-12 per kg on Jan 2. It was Rs15-16 per kg on Dec 31. The drop in onion prices has been attributed to the arrival of fresh crop from Sindh.

The retail price of potato has also declined to Rs12 from Rs20 per kg on Dec 31 and Rs25-30 per kg during Dec 27 to 30. At the wholesale market, potato is now available at Rs6 per kg as compared to Rs12 per kg over the last few days of December. Before closure of the market, it was selling at Rs6-8 per kg. The fresh potato stocks have arrived from Punjab.

Tomato retail price has fallen to its pre-violence rate of Rs30 per kg as against Rs40 recorded soon after the reopening of markets on Dec 31. Consumers paid as much as Rs50 per kg in the last four days of December. Its wholesale price now remains between Rs15 and Rs20 per kg as compared to Rs25 per kg on Dec 31. Tomato stocks have land at the city markets from Sindh.

Ginger and garlic rates have fallen to Rs45-60 per kg after reaching the highest level of around Rs70 per kg during the December violence.

President of the Wholesale Vegetable Market’s Welfare Association Haji Shahjehan said that the number of supply vehicles carrying vegetables and fruits had risen to 550-600 per day as against 200-300 on Jan 1 and 100 on Dec 31.