The prices of pulses, sugar and other kitchen items have contracted amid dull consumer market activities on the back of what the retailers said politico-economic uncertainties in the country. According to retailers, the rates of sugar, pulses and other daily-use items declined from 25 to 30 percent during the past couple of months. They said one kilogram of sugar was presently being retailed at Rs46 against Rs68 almost two months ago, while 16-kilogram tin of the cooking oil cost the consumers Rs2,460 against Rs2,520.
The prices of pulses like Daal Mong, Daal Channa and Daal Mash slid, respectively, to Rs92 (per kg) from 130, Rs62 from Rs70 and Rs102 from Rs135. The Kabli Channa is being sold at Rs152 against Rs175, they added.
Other kitchen items like Ilaichi (small) are being priced down at Rs1,200 per kg compared to the previous Rs2600. Big Ilaichi prices have come down to Rs1,300 from Rs1,700. Daar Cheeni is being priced at Rs1,400 (per kg) against the previous Rs200. A kilogram of Dry Coconut is sold at Rs190 as against Rs280.
Talking to Profit, Fareed Qureshi, General Secretary Karachi Retailer Glossers Group (KRGG), said investors’ confidence had been badly shaken in the wake of persistent political chaos in the country. Still, the retailer said, an uncertain law and order situation was barring the investors from injecting fresh capital in the local business. Qureshi said despite a major slump in the prices of daily-use commodities, the consumers were not interested in buying on account of their fast reducing purchasing power. The ever-increasing inflation, the KRGG chief cited as a reason that, he said, had eroded the buyers’ purchasing capacity. He went on to say that factors like political instability, poor law and order situation and a stagnant economy were adversely impacting the confidence of businessmen to invest more money in the market.
