KARACHI: As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, a massive wave of inflation has hit Karachi’s fruit markets, with prices of essential items nearly doubling. Despite the official price lists issued by the administration, vendors across the city continue to sell fruits at exorbitant rates, making it increasingly difficult for citizens to manage their household budgets for the upcoming fasting month.
The price hike has been most visible in the case of Bananas, which were previously sold at Rs. 100 per dozen but have now jumped to Rs. 200 per dozen. Seasonal favorites like Melon and Watermelon have also seen a dramatic start, with prices hitting the Rs. 200 per kg mark. Similarly, Guava is being sold at Rs. 250 per kg, while Chiku, previously priced at Rs. 150, has now crossed the Rs. 200 threshold.
The luxury of having apples on the Iftar table has also become costly; Golden Apples are now priced at Rs. 300 per kg, while the Iranian variety has reached Rs. 400 per kg. Other fruits follow the same trend, with Papaya at Rs. 300 per kg, Kiwi at Rs. 600, and Strawberries at Rs. 250 per kg. Citrus fruits have not been spared either, as Kinnow prices rose from Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 per dozen, and Mosambi increased from Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 per dozen.
Frustrated citizens have expressed that for the lower-income class, eating fruit during Ramadan is no longer a possibility. Many residents believe that a complete boycott of expensive fruits is the only remaining option to counter this artificial inflation. Meanwhile, local retailers and pushcart vendors shift the blame toward the Wholesale Sabzi Mandi, claiming that the administration only penalizes small sellers while ignoring the “big fish” at the wholesale level who are the primary cause of the price hike.
