Lahore

The rates of major kitchen items including sugar, edible oil and pulses have increased sharply while most of the fresh vegetables prices remained unchanged both in open market as well as in Sunday bazaars.
The prices of sugar have increased in wholesale market, as a 49-kg bag was available at Rs 3200-3300, which was selling at Rs 3,000 during last week, leading to an increase of Rs5 per kg from Rs60 to Rs65 a kg. Prices of ghee and edible oil have also gone up by Rs10-15 per kg, as different brands have announced new rates during the last week.
The retail price of sugar has surged to Rs65 a kilogram after the government announced Rs6.5 billion (Rs13 a kg) export subsidy to millers in December 2015, when prices were Rs56. Though the wholesale price has risen from Rs56 to Rs60, but retailers are charging consumers an extra Rs4 per kg.
Moreover, flour prices also improved to Rs 4,100/ from Rs 4,000 per 85-kg in wholesale markets. Similarly, the retail rates also steadily increased as fine flour is being sold at Rs 52 per kg against the Rs 48 per kg, while brown flour was available at Rs 42 per kg against Rs 40 per kg. 
According market sources, the government allowed 500,000 tons of sugar exports with a subsidy of Rs13 per kg till March 31, 2016. In the first phase 200,000 tonnes were allowed to be exported and then 350,000. The government had earlier allowed 650,000 tons of sugar exports with a subsidy of Rs10 per kg. Moreover, a 40 per cent regulatory duty on import of raw and beet sugar was also imposed to protect sugar millers.
Based on these subsidies and incentives, the retail price of sugar fluctuated between Rs55 per kg and Rs65 during the last one month. Despite government’s support to sugar millers regarding subsidies and imposition of 40 percent regulatory duty on imports, the commodity’s exports remained unimpressive in view of declining price trend in world markets.
A nominal cut in prices of gram flour was also seen being sold at Rs 70 per kilogram against Rs 90 per kg. Similarly, a slight decease also witnessed in rates of beverages with different quality and brands. However, prices of all quality and varieties of pulses, slightly increased in market, as rice is available at Rs 110 per kg, against Rs 100 in the market. Price of Dal mash is being sold at Rs200 per kilogram, which was selling at Rs180 per kg, while white beans sold at Rs 115 per kilogram against Rs110. In the same way masoor price has increased from Rs 135 from Rs 115 per kg, dal masoor at Rs 125 per kg, gram flour at Rs 130. Likewise, a rise of Rs 50 has been registered in a 20-kg sac of flour. 
Prices of vegetables remained unchanged or reported decline in the range of Rs5 to Rs10, as potatoes were being sold for Rs12 per kg, onion for Rs32 per kg, tomato for Rs30 per kg in Sunday bazaars. While the same items were available at higher rates by Rs5 to Rs10 in open market.