KARACHI, Feb 2: Consumers paid higher prices to buy flour, branded ghee and cooking oil, fresh milk, rice, masur and arhar in the last one month, while there was a decline in the prices of onion, potato, tomato and sugar.

A random market survey between Jan 1 to Feb 1 showed that the price of atta (mills) was still high at Rs28 a kg as compared to Rs26. Prices had reached Rs30 per kg in mid-January.

Ashrafi Fine atta is not available yet in the market, but those holding stocks are demanding Rs260 for a 10 kg bag.

The atta no 2.5 is now priced at Rs17 to 18 per kg as compared to its previous rate of Rs24 per kg after an understanding reached between the millers and the government which led to increase in the wheat quota to mills.

Prices of various varieties of rice surged owing to rising trend in its export for the past one year.

Moreover, there are complaints about availability of poor quality rice at enhanced rates.

Fresh milk retailers too have given a jerk to consumers by enhancing the retail rate to Rs36 per litre from Feb 1 as compared to Rs34 per litre while the rate of yoghurt has been increased to Rs50 from Rs48 per kg. The city government has, so far, not been able to bring down its prices.

Last year, tetra milk producers were asked to explain reasons of frequent price hikes, but such efforts failed to bear any fruitful result, and consumers are now forced to pay Rs44 for a litre.

In pulses, masoor and arhar remained under pressure. Chairman Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA), Anis Majeed, said that the rate of Canadian masur is now tagged at $950 per ton as compared to $350-400 last year.

Arhar had risen owing to end of local crop and costlier imports. He said new crop would be arriving shortly in the market after which rates are likely to stabilise. He said sugar rate has declined owing to arrival of new sugarcane crop.

In rice, exporters are getting good rates in the international market. Supply of flour in the market is stable these days after an increase in wheat quota by the government to the flour mills.

In vegetables, onion and potato prices had crashed owing to increased supplies from the producing areas.

Onion price in wholesale market is hovering between Rs4-5 per kg as compared to Rs10-12 per kg last month.

Arrival from Sindh crop is in full swing, but its export is banned from Pakistan. In world markets, India is enhancing its share by sending the commodity at lower rates.

Potato is arriving from Punjab’s new crop and its wholesale price has fallen to Rs5-6 per kg from Rs10. However, its export is going on to UAE and Far Eastern countries.

Wholesale tomato prices had gone up to Rs20-25 per kg from Rs8-10 last month since maturation time of tomato in winter has shrunk. However, its prices have declined by Rs5 per kg as compared to last month. In the middle of January, its retail rate had been quoted at Rs15 per kg.

President, Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market Subzimandi, Haji Shahjehan, said that the growers are suffering as they are not getting good returns in onion and potato.

He said after an increase in diesel prices in the upcountry after shortage in some areas followed by torching of vehicles after Benazir Bhutto’s killing, the transporters are now charging Rs140 to 150 per 100 kg bag from Punjab to Karachi as compared to Rs 70-80 per bag.

Similarly, truckers are demanding Rs5,000-6,000 for carrying 100 bags of onion from Sindh as compared to Rs3,000-4,000, he said.

Branded ghee and cooking oil producers made a seventh increase in the price last month since September 2006 owing to continuous increase in palm olein rate in Malaysia and Indonesia.

As far as poultry is concerned, even after confirmation of a bird flu case in Gadap on Friday, chicken rates have not fallen. However, its rates as compared to last month have decreased very nominally.