Inflation in essential commodities has climbed for the second straight week, putting extra pressure on household budgets across Pakistan.
According to the latest Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) report, the weekly inflation rate rose by 0.31 per cent, while the annual rate reached 2.21 per cent.
Prices of 17 essential items went up during the week. Tomatoes saw a sharp jump of Rs10.42 per kilogram, and live broiler chicken increased by Rs19.67 per kilogram. A dozen eggs became costlier by Rs6.19, and a 20-kilogram flour bag rose by more than Rs21.
Other products with rising prices included onions, garlic, black gram, and jaggery. Meanwhile, bananas, potatoes, rice, and LPG cylinders became cheaper. Prices of 24 essential items stayed the same, and 9 items saw a drop.
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One of the most noticeable concerns in the inflation in essential commodities was sugar. Despite the government’s official price cap of Rs173 per kilogram, market rates continued to rise. In Islamabad, Karachi, and Peshawar, sugar was sold for up to Rs190 per kilogram, openly defying the official limit.
The PBS report showed the average sugar price increased by 0.52 paisas per kilogram in the last week. In Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Bannu, sugar cost Rs185 per kilogram, while Quetta recorded Rs182. In Hyderabad and Larkana, the rate was Rs181, but in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Sargodha, sugar was available at the government-set price.
