Even before the formal approval of the federal and provincial budgets, their adverse impact has become evident in Rawalpindi. A surge in new taxes, including general sales tax, has driven up prices of food items, essentials, bakery products, cooking oil, ghee, and flour. Weekly markets held on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday have also become centers of inflation.
Soaring Prices of Daily Essentials
Milk is now being sold at Rs250-260 per litre, yoghurt at Rs280 per kilogram, mutton at Rs2,700 per kilogram, and beef at Rs1,500 per kilogram. Eggs have risen to Rs210 per dozen, while ghee is priced at Rs550 per kilogram and cooking oil at Rs570 per litre. Flour is selling at Rs170 per kilogram, and sugar at Rs160 per kilogram.
Pulses and Vegetables Hit Hard
White chickpeas are being sold at Rs420 per kilogram, gram pulse at Rs380, mash pulse at Rs580-600, and red kidney beans at Rs500 per kilogram. Among vegetables, potatoes are available at Rs40 per kilogram, onions at Rs60-70, peas at Rs150, bitter gourd at Rs130, local lemons at Rs300, ginger at Rs300, garlic at Rs250, cauliflower at Rs100, and green chillies at Rs100 per kilogram.
Fruit Prices Also Rise
Fruit prices have also climbed. Bananas are selling for Rs200-250 per dozen, mangoes at Rs250-300, watermelon at Rs50 per kilogram, and melon and garma at Rs150 per kilogram.
