Prices of tomatoes at Rs 600 per kg in Pakistan

Digital Desk

The price of tomatoes in Pakistan has reached 600 Pakistani rupees per kg. This is a 400% increase from normal prices. This means that tomatoes that used to be available for 50-100 rupees per kg are now selling for 550-600 rupees per kg.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan border has been closed since October 11 due to tensions at key crossings like Torkham and Chaman. Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring terrorist attacks, leading to tensions and a halt in trade.

Instead of 30 trucks daily, only 15-20 trucks of tomatoes are arriving.

The closure of the crossing has stranded around 5,000 containers filled with goods such as tomatoes, apples, and grapes. Furthermore, heavy rains and flooding have caused significant damage to crops in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Sindh.

According to media reports, instead of the usual 30 trucks, only 15-20 trucks of tomatoes are arriving at Lahore's Badami Bagh market daily, widening the demand-supply gap. Consequently, prices have risen.

**Tomato prices have risen by 400%**
Vegetable	Price (in Pakistani Rupees)
Tomato	600
Garlic	750
Onion	120
Pea	500
Capsicum	300
Ladyfinger	300
Cucumber	150
Red carrots	200
Lemon	300
Coriander bunch	50

Source: Pakistani newspaper Express Tribune

Floods in Pakistani areas reduce production

One reason for the surge in tomato prices is the long-standing cross-border trade. According to a PTI report, in 2011, Indian traders took advantage of high tomato prices in Pakistan and sent truckloads of tomatoes through the Attari-Wagah border.

Tomato trucks from Delhi and Nashik were transported daily to Pakistan, driving up prices in Indian markets. Experts say floods in Sindh and other growing areas of Pakistan often lead to local shortages, further driving up prices.

Now, Pakistani consumers are facing a similar situation, as local supplies are low and imports are stalled due to border closures. According to R.P. Gupta, director of the National Horticulture Research and Development Foundation, major growing regions in India, such as Nashik, Pune, and Ahmednagar, currently meet the demand for northern markets. This lack of cross-border supply is further pressuring local prices in Pakistan.

Two years ago, the 'world's most expensive flour' was sold.

Previously, in July 2023, the price of flour in Pakistan reached ₹320 per kilogram. A 20-kilogram bag of flour in Karachi reached ₹3,200, the highest price in Pakistan's 58-year history. It was called "the most expensive flour in the world." Meanwhile, sugar prices in retail markets across Pakistan also reached record highs of up to ₹160 per kilogram.