Rawalpindi residents are facing a major price hike in essential kitchen items as vegetable and fruit prices continue to soar. Tomatoes, a daily cooking staple, have hit a record Rs. 600 per kilogram in several suburban markets, leaving both consumers and vendors frustrated.
Traders attribute the sharp surge to supply shortages and halted imports from Afghanistan, one of Pakistan’s key suppliers of tomatoes and other vegetables.
The reduced inflow, combined with ongoing transport challenges and crop damage in some producing regions, has worsened the shortage.
Shopkeepers say the situation is unlikely to improve soon unless fresh supplies reach wholesale markets. “Tomatoes are arriving in very small quantities, and prices rise every few days,” said a vendor in the Committee Chowk area. Many consumers have started cutting down on tomato use or switching to alternatives like puree and yogurt for cooking.
The impact of inflation isn’t limited to tomatoes. Other vegetables, such as ginger, garlic, and peas, have also seen sharp increases, adding pressure to already stretched household budgets. Fruits have not been spared either, apples now sell for Rs. 250–350 per kilogram, while grapes reach up to Rs. 600.
Residents are urging the government to intervene and regulate market prices, warning that unchecked inflation could further strain families already struggling with rising food and fuel costs.
Officials have yet to announce any concrete relief measures, though temporary market inspections are reportedly underway.
