21/02/2008 (The Post, Pakistan), Lahore - The prices of cooking oil and ghee showed an upward trend owing to its high demand increasing from Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kilogram during the last one month in the whole sale markets, The Post learnt on Wednesday.

However, people held its increase due to government's poor policies, bad governance, inefficiency and corruption, which was responsible for its rise in prices.

Over 25 percent increase in the prices of ghee and cooking oil has raised the household budgets and is showing no signs of decrease to the consumers and it is likely that a further increase in their prices was on the cards.

The unprecedented situation is, surprisingly failing to compel the government to compromise on levies on ghee production and keep prices within the reach of the common people.

The unrestrained hike has broken the backbone of the poor and low-income groups during the past one month.

However, some vendors at Akbari Mandi complained that the manufacturers of oil and ghee were continuously increasing the price on the excuse that the prices of vegetable oils were increasing internationally.

They said the manufacturers had already increased the price by 20 to 25 percent during the last one month.

On the other hand, A-category 16 kilogram ghee tin was sold at Rs 1,880, B-category 16 kilogram ghee tin was available at Rs 1,800 and C-category 16 kilogram ghee was sold at Rs 1,775. However, the retailers were charging Rs 100 to Rs 105 per kilogram for loose ghee, while poly bag ghee of different brands was sold from Rs 130 to Rs 140 per kilogram.

The market committee fixed the retail rates of onions at Rs 7 to Rs 8 per kilogram, but the vendors were charging Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kilogram.

The fixed prices of tomatoes settled from Rs 28 to Rs 32 per kilogram, but it was being sold for Rs 30 to Rs 36 per kilogram by the vendors.

Potatoes were sold at Rs 10 to Rs 14 pr kilogram against the fixed rates of Rs 7 to Rs 10 per kilogram, while the rates of garlic (desi) was Rs 34 to Rs 39 per kilogram, garlic (China) Rs 26 to 29 per kilogram and ginger Rs 74 to Rs 79 per kilogram.

The retail price of spinach hovered between Rs 16 to Rs 20 per kilogram and the market committee fixed the rates at Rs 12 to Rs 14, while cucumbers were sold from Rs 36 to Rs 40 per kilogram.

The price fixed by the market committee for apples (kala kolo) ranged from Rs 64 to Rs 80 per kilogram, but they were available at Rs 70 to Rs 90 per kg.

The price of good-quality guavas ranged from Rs 29 to Rs 40 per kilogram and they were being sold from Rs 36 to Rs 50 per kilogram.

The official prices of different varieties of pomegranates were fixed from Rs 74 to Rs 100 per kilogram, while they were available between Rs 85 and Rs 120 per kilogram.

The price of good-quality bananas was fixed at Rs 50 per dozen, while they were sold from Rs 60 to Rs 75 per dozen.

The price of 20-kilogram flour bag of different brands ranged from Rs 295 to Rs 340,while the 10-kilogram flour bags of different brands was being sold at Rs 175 to Rs 185 per bag. The price of good-quality basmati rice (new) ranged from Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kilogram of different brands and the price of good-quality basmati rice (old) ranged from Rs 65 to Rs 75 per kilogram of different brands.

Similarly, the prices of low-quality rice ranged from Rs 45 to Rs 55 per kilogram, while broken rice was available from Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kilogram.

The prices of eggs settled at Rs 52 per dozen, but the shopkeepers were selling at Rs 52 to Rs 54 per dozen.

The fixed price of chicken meat was Rs 107 per kilogram, while it was being sold at Rs 107 to Rs 110 per kilogram.

Various varieties of gram pulse were sold at Rs 36 to 40 per kilogram, masoor pulse was available at Rs 60 to 65 per kilogram, while lentil pulse was available at Rs 75 to Rs 78 per kilogram. The ex-factory price of 100 kilogram sugar sack was fixed at Rs 2,420, while the wholesale rate of 100-kilogram sugar bag settled at Rs 2,430 from Rs 2,440 per bag. However, the retailers were charging the previous rates of Rs 25 to Rs 27 per kilogram in various parts of the city.