Tomato prices continue to skyrocket in parts of country

The consumers in Pakistan are facing immense difficulties as prices of tomato have continued to shot up across the country.

The tomato prices have crossed double century in Peshawar as they are being sold at Rs 250 per kilogram while Karachiites are buying them at Rs200/kg.

The vegetable sellers said that the tomato supply has badly affected due to its wrong cropping while the prices are likely to be decreased in coming week.

Vegetable vendors are selling tomatoes for Rs.200/- per kilogram in violation of the prices fixed by the federal government.

According to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the weekly inflation for the week ended on September 21 for the combined income groups increased by 0.61 percent as compared to the previous week.

The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 223.47 points against 222.11 points last week.

As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review witnessed increase of 2.16 per cent.

The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007, 2008=100, covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups.

Meanwhile, the SPI for the lowest income group up to Rs 8,000 increased by 0.70 percent as it went up from 213.01 points in the previous week to 214.51 points in the week under review. As compared to the last week, the SPI for the income groups from Rs 8001 to 12,000, Rs 12,001 to 18,000, Rs 18,001 to 35,000 and above Rs 35,000, also increased by 0.66 percent, 0.67 percent, 0.62 percent and 0.65 percent respectively.

During the week under review, average prices of 14 items registered decrease, while 09 items increase with the remaining 30 items’ prices unchanged.

The items, which registered decrease in their prices during the week under review included onions, bananas, garlic, chicken (farm), LPG Cylinder, tea, vegetable ghee, pulse mash, mustard oil, rice basmati, effs, pulse moong, pulse masoor, and red chili powder (loose).

The items, which registered increase in their prices during the week under review, include tomatoes, potatoes, wheat, wheat flour, pulse gram, Gur, vegetable ghee, sugar, and beef.

The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included rice irri-6, bread, mutton, milk (fresh), curd, milk (powdered),cooking oil (tin), salt powder (loose), cooked beef, cooked pulses, tea prepared, cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn, georgette, gents sandal, gents chappal, ladies sandal, electricity charges, gas charges, kerosene oil, firewood, washing soap, match box, petrol, diesel, telephone local call and bath soap.