Inflation in essential commodities rose for the second straight week, with weekly inflation up 0.31% and annual inflation climbing to 2.21%, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Prices of 17 key items increased during the week. Tomatoes surged by Rs10.42 per kg, live broiler chicken by Rs19.67 per kg, a dozen eggs by Rs6.19, while the price of a 20-kg flour bag rose by more than Rs21.
Other items that recorded a rise in prices include onions, garlic, black gram and jaggery. In contrast, prices of bananas, potatoes, rice and LPG cylinders saw a decline. Prices of 24 items remained stable, while 9 items became cheaper.
– Sugar price surges despite official rate cap –
Government efforts to maintain the official sugar price at Rs173 per kilogram have failed to contain rising rates. Retailers in Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar continue to sell sugar for up to Rs190 per kilogram, in clear violation of government-set prices.
The PBS report confirmed that the average sugar price rose by 0.52 paisas per kilogram during the past week. In Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Bannu, sugar was sold at Rs185 per kilogram. The price stood at Rs182 in Quetta, while in Hyderabad and Larkana, it reached Rs181 per kilogram. However, in Lahore, Faisalabad and Sargodha, sugar was reportedly available at the official rate.
Source: Samaa Tv
