KARACHI, Feb 15: After an increase in prices of ghee, cooking oil and tea on Thursday, consumers received a further pre-election setback owing to a price flare-up of almost all vegetables. Masur and gram also surged by Rs2 to 4 per kg, respectively.

A random market survey on Friday revealed an increase in the prices of tomato to Rs55-60 from Rs40 a kg a few days back, followed by a rise in the potato price to Rs12 from Rs10 per kg.

Ladyfinger is now selling at Rs80 per kg as compared to Rs50-60 per kg while white gourd is now priced at Rs60 as compared to Rs25-30 per kg.

Brinjal is selling at Rs40 a kg as against Rs20 a kg while peas are available at Rs40 as compared to Rs25-30 per kg.

Cucumber sells at Rs60 per kg as compared to Rs30 while radish is being retailed at Rs20-25 per kg as compared to Rs15 a kg.

Cauliflower is tagged at Rs45 as against Rs25-30 per kg.

Price of bitter gourd hovers between Rs80 and 90 a kg as compared to Rs30-40 per kg while price of ridge gourd has increased to Rs60 from Rs30-35 per kg.

Green chilly and Simla are selling between Rs100 and Rs120 as compared to Rs60 per kg. Carrot is selling at Rs20 as compared to Rs10-12 per kg. Only onion price is unchanged at Rs10-12 per kg as its wholesale price has ranged between Rs5 and 6 per kg.

President, Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, Superhighway, Haji Shahjehan, has linked the price-hike to phenomenal jump in wholesale prices caused by slow arrival of trucks and other big vehicles from producing areas in Sindh and upcountry as many political parties have engaged transporters for political campaigns and rallies.

He said arrival of trucks at the vegetable market has dropped to 500-600 per day from 800-1,000 some 10 days back as election campaign and rallies are now in full swing in all parts of the country.

Besides, heavy fog and chilly weather has damaged nearly 60 per cent of finished and half-matured vegetables in Sindh and Punjab.

He said that wholesale rates have further increased since supply from producing areas has lowered.

On Friday, wholesale tomato price was quoted at Rs60 a kg as compared to Rs40 two days back and Rs25-30 per kg a week back.

Bitter gourd and white gourd were available at Rs100 and Rs70 per kg on Friday at wholesale level. Ridge gourd was selling at Rs40-50 per kg.

Shahjehan said some fresh vegetables have started arriving from India to meet the demand.

In pulses, good quality gram rate has surged to Rs48 from Rs44 per kg while quality No 1 masur has become costlier to Rs75 as compared to Rs73 per kg.

A wholesaler said there was no increase in gram rate but masur prices have become under pressure since its international price has surged to $1,000 per ton as compared to $700 per ton a month back. The masur crop of 25,000-30,000 is arriving in March.