KARACHI, May 20: Prices of sugar and some pulses increased further.

The wholesale rate of sugar is now quoted at Rs28 per kg while retailers are charging Rs30 per kg in many areas. Last week, its retail rate ranged between Rs26-28 per kg while it was available at Rs25 per kg on May 1, 2008.

Similarly, the wholesale price of masoor pulse is now being quoted at Rs110 per kg as compared to Rs100 last week. Many retailers, having old stocks, are charging Rs110 per kg. But in many areas retailers are demanding Rs115-125 per kg.

Gram pulse price came under fresh pressure as its wholesale price is now being quoted at Rs62 per kg. Retailers are demanding Rs68 per kg from the consumers. On May 1, it was selling at Rs64 per kg. There has been some increase in retail rate of mash pulse, rising to Rs65 per kg from Rs62.

A retailer said that the vested interests in the market had resorted to heavy hoarding of sugar in order to make profits. Almost, all the retailers of fresh milk are freely demanding Rs40-42 per litre as the price fixation issue is in the court. Last week, retailers were charging Rs34-36 per litre.

The City government has also issued the price list of essential commodities for one month (from May 10 to June 10) but Karachi Retail Grocers Group (KRGG) has rejected the list.

KRGG General Secretary Farid Qureishi said there was difference of Rs5 to Rs7 per kg in the wholesale rates mentioned in the list as compared to the current rates. Even there is a big difference in the retail rates of commodities prevailing in the market as compared to rates issued by the government.

He said he had informed the City government high-ups on Tuesday that it would not be possible to sell the items at control rates as wholesale prices had been surging frequently.

The efforts of the government have so far failed to bring down the prices despite raids conducted by the officials. Majority of shops do not display the price list and those, who hang it, do not follow it.

A City government official tried to defend his inefficiency in controlling the increasing rates by saying that around 50 officials, who have magisterial powers, are proving insufficient to handle the price hike issue in a mega city like Karachi having 18 towns.

To a query that the wholesalers had already rejected the price list, he said that the members of the Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association had always refrained from attending the meeting and providing the rates as they said that it was hard to fix wholesale rates of the commodities owing to daily change in prices in the markets.