Tomato prices in Quetta have increased sharply, moving from Rs50 per kilo (US$0.18) to Rs280–300 per kilo (US$1.01–1.08). Two days earlier, prices were Rs250 (US$0.90), with consumers noting that Rs250 once bought five kilos but now buys only one.
Vendors attribute the shortage to local tomatoes from Balochistan being sent to other provinces, leaving Quetta reliant on imported Iranian tomatoes, already priced higher in wholesale markets.
Other vegetables in Quetta's bazaars are also trading at elevated levels. Lemons are Rs800 per kilo (US$2.88), green chilies Rs200 (US$0.72), bitter gourd Rs150 (US$0.54), garlic Rs250 (US$0.90), ginger Rs600 (US$2.16), onions Rs300–350 (US$1.08–1.26), potatoes Rs100–150 (US$0.36–0.54), capsicum Rs250 (US$0.90), carrots Rs100 (US$0.36), cucumber Rs120 (US$0.43), peas Rs400 (US$1.44), okra Rs150 (US$0.54), and cabbage Rs100 (US$0.36).
The price surge is not confined to Quetta. Other districts in Balochistan are experiencing similar conditions, with citizens calling for government intervention to stabilise markets.
In Karachi, tomato prices followed the same trajectory. Rates that were Rs80 (US$0.29) a few weeks ago now exceed Rs300 (US$1.08) per kilo. Traders have cited floods as the reason, though consumers point out that Sindh's agricultural belt was unaffected and transport routes remained open. Reports also highlight higher prices in warehouses storing dry vegetables and spices, raising concerns of hoarding and profiteering.
In Rawalpindi, vegetable prices reflect the same trend. Tomatoes are selling at Rs350 (US$1.26) per kilo, peas at Rs380 (US$1.37), lemons at Rs350 (US$1.26), and ginger at Rs600 (US$2.16). Fruits such as bananas, apples, grapes, and pomegranates are also trading at record highs.
Even Sunday bazaars and roadside stalls, usually relied upon by lower- and middle-income groups, now offer little relief. Across Quetta, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, the trend shows that fresh produce has become increasingly unaffordable for households.
Source: The Express Tribune
