The prices of edible items, particularly vegetables, have increased exponentially in the wake of record rains and flooding that have destroyed crops and disrupted supply lines resulting in supply shortage, adding to the misery of flood-hit people.

Peshawar

The price of tomato has gone up to Rs200 per kilo, onions are being sold at Rs250 per kg, and potato is being sold at Rs200 per kg in city markets.

“Most of the vegetable items come from neighbouring Afghanistan and the floods have damaged roads that conneted Khyer Pakhtunkhwa with the areas from where vegetables are brought,” a shopkeepers told Aaj News.

“This in turn created a shortage of vegetable that lead to hike in the prices,” they added.

Tomato and onion crops have been damaged in Sindh due to the recent floods. However, potato is not among the damaged crops, as this is not its production season.

Customers alleged that the hoarders were creating artificial shortages to increase the price and earn profits.

Karachi

The port city witnessed the highest prices of vegetables where the price of tomato was as high as Rs400 per kg, onion is being sold at Rs200 per kg, potato at Rs80 per kilo, green pepper at Rs260, and lady finger at Rs320 per kg.

Vegetable sellers say increase in transportation and logistics cost along with a supply shortage has resulted in the price hike.

Lahore

Meanwhile, the vegetable prices in Punjab’s Lahore also skyrocketed with tomatoes being sold for Rs400 per kg, onion at Rs400 per kg, green pepper at Rs300 per kg, and peas at Rs500 per kg.

The supply of vegetables from Balochistan and Sindh to city markets has drastically decreased since July mainly due to damages to road infrastructure caused by heavy rains.

Islamabad

The prices almost increased by 300% in Islamabad markets as tomato is being sold at Rs350 per kg. Potato prices have increased from Rs80 per kg to Rs350 per kg. The rates of all other vegetables have also increased.

Acccording to available infomation, rains and floods have destroyed 75pc of crops of vegetables in many producing areas of the country.

Meanwhile, inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Index has reached the highest level in the history of the country due to an increase in the prices of petroleum products and disruption in the supply of commodities amid ravaging flood situation.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the weekly inflation rate increased by 1.83% to reach a record high level of 44.58 percent during the last week.