PESHAWAR: The worst inflation has hit Peshawar, with the cost of vegetables soaring beyond Rs150 per kilogram.
The price of tomatoes has reached an unprecedented Rs150 per kg, up from Rs120 Bitter gourd, known has surged from Rs100 to Rs130 per kilogram. Potatoes are now scarce, and peas are being sold at Rs400 per kg.
The prices of vegetables from various districts of Peshawar have skyrocketed, with rates from Afghanistan and Punjab and Sindh provinces not falling below Rs200 to Rs300 per kilogram.
The soaring prices have forced the impoverished working class into an unending cycle of distress. The cost of food has become unbearable, and even basic vegetables are out of reach. Urban dwellers believe that the district administration has failed to effectively curb the inflation crisis, leaving the working-class population burdened.
Aman Ali, a vegetable vendor, reports that the substantial increase in prices of petroleum products, electricity, and gas has shattered the backbone of the common people. The new wave of inflation has given rise to new challenges, affecting not only the consumers but also severely impacting the business community due to reduced purchasing power.
Farid Khan, a resident of Peshawar, said that he works as a daily wage labourer and struggles to find work every day. While he manages to find work, it has become extremely difficult to afford a meal for his family when he goes out to buy groceries.
He further said that previously, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa enjoyed abundant vegetable production, benefiting from lower transportation costs. However, due to the establishment of housing societies on agricultural lands and reduced agricultural output, the province now relies on importing vegetables from other regions, incurring high transportation expenses.
Furthermore, extended vehicle checks at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have caused a decline in vegetable imports from Afghanistan, as perishable goods often rot in transit due to the prolonged checks. The district administration has not issued any statement on the matter, but it is believed that they are working on a plan to address the inflation crisis.
