ISLAMABAD: The prices of dry fruits has become beyond the reach of a
common man with the advent of winter season in twin cities.
As rain turned the weather in Rawalpindi and Islamabad the demand for dry fruits has increased to a marked extent.
However,
with the increasing demand, the prices have also gone up beyond the
reach of low income groups as apart from regular shop-keepers in the
important markets of the twin cities the dry-fruit vendors have
significantly hiked the prices.
Nuts is sold at Rs. 320/kg,
Grams at Rs. 160/kg, three varieties of Almonds at Rs. 400, 480 and
600/kg respectively, similarly three varieties of Kernel at Rs. 700, 800
and 900/kg, Pistachio with and without shell at Rs. 1000 and 1600/kg
respectively, Walnut at Rs. 320/kg, dried-up dates at 200/kg, Pine nut
(Chilgoza) at Rs. 2800/kg while Mewa is being sold at Rs. 500/kg in the
open market.
It is pertinent to mention here when this scribe
asked the rates from different markets there were differences in the
rates, which shows that there is lack of price control system in the
open market.
When reasons of hike in prices of the dry fruits
were asked to the dry fruit dealers in the twin cities, they said that
there are multiple factors behind the sky rocketing prices of these
items. They said pine nut (Chilghoza) is imported from Afghanistan while
Almonds are being imported from Iran, which causes increases in prices
of these commodities.
Most of these fruits are grown in hilly
areas like Northern Areas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Balochistan,
FATA and NWFP. Few shop owners and vendors said that dry fruit dealers
in its growing areas use to store dry fruits before the full swing of
winter, which result in shortage of these items in the open market thus
leading to raising prices.
Amjad Abbasi, a shop-owner in Aabpara
market told this news agency that this year rates of dry fruits have
increased to great extent as compared to previous year. “I hardly
received a customer belonging to lower middle class to buy these costly
dry fruits,” he added. He said the high prices have led to any shortfall
of buyers.
When contacted most buyers complain that the prices
of dry fruits this year have increased and became out of their reach,
however they are unable to understand out of proportion shot up in
prices of dry fruits. Online
