KARACHI: The prices of tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and other vegetables have started creeping up ahead of the start of Ramazan, after hitting rare seasonal lows, thanks to a winter production glut, while prices of flour varieties and fruits have risen.

As the holy month will get underway from the third week of this month, fruit vendors have already started charging higher rates for the most sought-after items like banana, apple and guava. In the flour industry, retailers blame millers for raising rates, while flour millers flatly reject the claim.

As the new Sindh wheat crop will arrive in March, a random market survey ahead of the holy month reveals a price hike in a 20 kg bag of wheat flour to Rs2,500-2,700 from Rs2,400-2,600 two weeks back, followed by a Rs141 per kg increase in fine flour, up from Rs133 per kg.

The Sensitive Price Index ending Feb 4 revealed a slight jump in the price of a 10kg bag of wheat to Rs1,100 from Rs1,050 two weeks back.

Vegetable, fruit and flour prices rise ahead of holy month

Roti makers also complained about a price hike of Rs450 per 50 kg in the fine flour bag, from Rs6,000 to Rs6,450, which may result in a price jump in Roti varieties if the fine flour bag crosses Rs7,000 per 50........

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