ISLAMABAD: With the onset of the winter season, the demand for dry fruits has increased in Islamabad and other cities across the country despite the soaring prices as compared to the previous year.
With the change of weather in Pakistan, the demand for dry fruits has started increasing and the prices have also gone up gradually. The shopkeepers of dry fruit in different cities have significantly hiked the prices because there was no proper check and balance on rates and missing rate lists by the market committees.
Shopkeepers Hike Dry Fruit Prices as Demand Increases
The peanuts were being sold in the city market at Rs 800 which was 500 per kg last year, Grams at Rs 500 to 600/kg against Rs 350 to 400 last year, varieties of Almonds at Rs 1200 to 2200/kg which was Rs 600 to 1200 previous year, Pistachio with and without shell at Rs 3000 to 3200/kg respectively, varieties of Walnut at Rs 1000 to 2200/kg, dried-up dates at 300 to 400/kg, Pine nut (Chilgoza) at Rs 8000/kg, cashew at Rs 3200 to 3500 while apricots were being sold in the open market at a price of Rs 800 to 1000/kg.
The shopkeeper of dry fruits has raised prices of dry fruits and charged exorbitant rates as there is no mechanism to control prices of such items by the district administration and market committees.
Dealers Store Dry Fruits which Cause Shortages in Markets
A dry fruit shopkeeper said that the dry fruit dealers use to store dry fruits, which resulted in a shortage of the commodities in the market and also a price hike.
He, however, maintained that this was only one reason for the price hike. The prices of dry fruits including Almond, pistachio, walnut, pine nut (chilghoza), date, cashew nut (Kaju), apricot, and peanut increased in the winter season as these are mostly demanded items.
Another shopkeeper said that due to the high prices of dry fruits, the sale of these items has decreased up to 50 percent as compared to the previous year. He said that he used to purchase these items from open markets with high prices and that is why he was selling these items with a low margin.
High Prices Made Dry Fruits Out of Reach of Common Man
He said that the daily sale was Rs 20,000 to 30,000 the previous year which was now decreased to 4000 to 6000 daily this season due to low public interest in the purchase of dry fruits.
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A citizen said that the high rates had made these items out of the reach of the common man. He said that the shopkeepers and open market traders have increased the rates for their own benefit.
He complained that there was no check and balance by the district administration and the market committees to control the price hike.
