KARACHI — The price of tomatoes has surged sharply across Karachi, reaching up to Rs560 per kilogram in retail markets as supply shortages worsen.
Wholesalers say retailers are charging more than double the wholesale rate of Rs250–300 per kg. Many consumers have been forced to buy smaller quantities — as little as 250 grams — to meet daily needs.
According to Haji Shahjehan, President of the Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market Super Highway, the spike is due to a decline in the Balochistan crop, low arrivals from Iran, and ongoing border tensions that have blocked shipments from Afghanistan. New tomato supplies from Sindh are expected next month.
Read More: Less Meat, Less Cancer: New Study Reveals
Shahjehan also criticised the absence of official price lists, which allows retailers to set arbitrary prices. Prices of other vegetables — including peas, ridge gourd, and ginger — have also risen by Rs50–100 per kg.
Meanwhile, consumers have seen some relief in poultry prices. The national average price of live chicken has dropped to Rs300–390 per kg, down from Rs440–540 last month. Boneless chicken now sells for Rs650–800 per kg compared to Rs1,000–1,100 earlier.
Sindh Poultry Wholesalers Association General Secretary Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui attributed the drop to overproduction and the suspension of exports to Afghanistan. However, egg prices remain high at Rs310–360 per dozen due to school reopenings and rising demand.
Read More: “Low-Sugar Fruits Perfect for Diabetes”
In contrast, prices of pulses remain steady despite a global decline. Wholesale rates for masoor, mung, mash, and gram pulses range from Rs250–530 per kg. Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association President Rauf Ibrahim noted that international prices have fallen sharply, but the benefit has not reached local consumers.
Sugar prices also remain stable between Rs177–200 per kg amid a dispute between the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over sales through the S-Track Portal. PSMA warned that disruptions could lead to shortages and higher prices.
With vegetable, poultry, and sugar markets fluctuating, Karachi consumers continue to face unpredictable food prices — forcing many to adjust their daily shopping habits amid ongoing inflation pressures.