PESHAWAR: Inflation is set to peak just before the arrival of Ramadan as the prices of essential food items have skyrocketed without any substantial justification. Fresh chicken is now being sold at an exorbitant rate of Rs 415 per kilogram, while eggs are priced at Rs 260 per dozen.
A recent visit to local vegetable and fruit markets revealed alarming increases in the prices of various food items. Onions are now being sold at Rs 300 per kilogram, tomatoes at Rs 160, white potatoes at Rs 80 per kilogram, peas at Rs 240, okra at Rs 300, garlic at Rs 650, and ginger at Rs 600 per kilogram. Additionally, lemons are priced at Rs 200, cauliflower at Rs 110, capsicum at Rs 300, and eggplant at Rs 160 per kilogram.
Moreover, fruit prices have also seen a surge, with Kabuli apples at Rs 290, golden apples at Rs 180, and Iranian apples at Rs 310 per kilogram. Malta Punjabi is available at Rs 190, Malta Swat at Rs 330, and Kino at Rs 120 per dozen. Guavas are being sold at Rs 290, pomegranates at Rs 430, and bananas at Rs 190 per dozen.
The sudden and significant increase in food prices poses a considerable burden on consumers, particularly as Ramadan approaches, a time when families traditionally increase their consumption of food items. This surge in prices without any valid explanation raises concerns about the affordability of essential commodities for the general public.
