LAHORE:
Consumers endured another punishing week as food inflation tightened its grip, with sharp increases in poultry prices overshadowing modest, largely ineffective relief in a handful of vegetables.
Market surveys showed that official price notifications once again failed to translate into relief at the retail level, as shopkeepers continued to charge well above government-fixed rates.
Although downward adjustments were recorded on paper for items such as onions, cucumbers and cabbage, the reductions were mostly cosmetic.
In contrast, a renewed surge in chicken prices further strained household budgets already under pressure from rising electricity and gas bills.
Traders cited supply disruptions and higher input costs, while residents complained that weekly price lists had become increasingly irrelevant in daily market transactions.
During the week, the official price of live chicken rose by Rs20 per kilogramme and was fixed at Rs379-393, but it remained largely unavailable at those rates. Chicken meat was increased by Rs29 per kg to Rs569, yet it sold for Rs600 to Rs680 in most markets. Boneless chicken continued to remain out of reach for many families, retailing between Rs900 and Rs1,100 per kg.
Vegetable prices presented a mixed picture. Soft-skin new potatoes were officially unchanged at Rs27-30 per kg but sold at Rs50-80. Onions were fixed at Rs57-62 after a successive decline, though consumers paid Rs80-100 per kg. Tomato prices moved in the opposite direction, rising by Rs30 per kg to Rs75-80, while retail rates ranged from Rs100 to Rs 150.
Garlic prices continued to climb. Local garlic was fixed at Rs157-165 per kg but sold for Rs200-250, while the Harnai variety retailed at around Rs400 per kg despite official rates below Rs330. Chinese garlic saw a marginal official decline but still sold at about Rs600 per kg.
