LAHORE: Pulses’ prices have significantly declined in the local wholesale market following a fall in global prices, offering relief to consumers struggling with high food costs.
According to the Wholesale Grocers Association, the price of black chickpeas has dropped by Rs50 per kilogram since September 2024. The price of dal chana is expected to decrease further, with a projected fall to Rs300 per kilogram from its current rate of Rs360.
Similarly, the price of dal mash has decreased by Rs75, from Rs500 per kilogram to Rs425. Additionally, the price of first-grade Kabuli white chickpeas has dropped from Rs400 to Rs355 per kilogram, while small-sized Kabuli chickpeas have fallen from Rs320 to Rs295 per kilogram.
In the global market, pulse prices have also decreased by more than $100 per ton, dropping from $860 per ton to $750 or below. This decline in international prices has contributed to the easing of local prices.
Rauf Ibrahim, Chairman of the Wholesale Grocers Association, attributed the recent downward trend in pulses prices to a halt in purchases by major buyers such as India and Sri Lanka.
In related news, the Utility Stores Corporation has also announced a significant price reduction for sugar, lowering the price by Rs130 per kilogram, from Rs153 to Rs140, amid falling inflation and positive economic signals. This follows the release of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook Report 2024, which forecasts a potential decline in inflation and unemployment in Pakistan shortly.
This combination of price reductions in key commodities is expected to provide much-needed relief to Pakistani consumers grappling with the rising cost of living.
