In a startling revelation by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday, onion prices have witnessed an unprecedented surge, hitting an alarming Rs320 per kg in Islamabad.
The impact is felt across neighbouring cities, with Rawalpindi reporting prices as high as Rs310 per kg.
City-wise Price Breakdown:
- Islamabad: Rs320/kg
- Rawalpindi: Rs310/kg
- Gujranwala: Rs240/kg
- Sialkot: Rs270/kg
- Lahore: Rs240/kg
- Faisalabad: Rs220/kg
- Karachi: Rs220/kg
- Peshawar: Rs270/kg
According to PBS data, the national average for onion prices stands at approximately Rs230 per kg.
The surge is notably linked to India’s ban on onion exports in early December. With India out of the export market, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in demand, which triggered a spike in local prices.
On the other hand, the PBS reported that the weekly inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), witnessed an increase of 0.34 per cent for the combined consumption groups during the week ended on January 18.
