The prices of essential kitchen items, including tomatoes, onions, and flour, have surged sharply across markets on Eidul Adha, adding to the financial burden on consumers already struggling with inflation.
Vendors and wholesalers have attributed the increase to supply disruptions, rising transportation costs, and seasonal demand, while citizens have expressed concern over the growing difficulty of managing daily household expenses.
Prices of essential food items, including onions, tomatoes, flour, ginger, and garlic, have surged ahead of Eid ul Adha, increasing the financial burden on consumers.
Retailers raised onion prices by Rs20 per kg due to higher demand for Eid-related meat dishes, with good-quality onions now selling for Rs100 per kg compared to Rs80 a few days earlier. Tomatoes have witnessed an even steeper increase, reaching Rs180-200 per kg from Rs70-100 in mid-month and Rs50-80 earlier this month.
Retailers are reportedly taking advantage of the demand despite wholesale onion prices remaining around Rs50 per kg. Traders cited slow arrivals of vegetables from Sindh and Balochistan as transporters prioritized the movement of sacrificial animals. Ginger and garlic prices also climbed by Rs50 per 250 grams to Rs200.
Meanwhile, flour prices continue to rise despite the arrival of new wheat crops, with wheat now selling at Rs107 per kg and a 20kg flour bag costing up to Rs2,700.
