Essential Food Prices Surge Put Household Budgets Under Pressure

LAHORE: Rising prices of essential food items have continued to put pressure on household budgets in Lahore, with flour, cooking oil, pulses, rice, vegetables, fruits, milk and meat being sold above official rates.

A 15-kilogram bag of flour is reportedly being sold for Rs2,100, while first-grade cooking oil and ghee have reached Rs615 per litre. Rice is selling for around Rs450 per kilogram.

Bread, whose official price is Rs14, is reportedly being sold for Rs20. Milk is available at Rs210 per litre against the official rate of Rs170, while yogurt is being sold for Rs230 per kilogram.

Consumers are also facing significant increases in meat prices. Beef, officially priced at Rs800 per kilogram, is reportedly being sold for as much as Rs1,500, while mutton is available for around Rs3,000 per kilogram against the official rate of Rs1,600.

Prices of vegetables and fruits are also reportedly exceeding the rates listed on official price lists, adding further pressure on consumers already struggling with rising household expenses.

The persistent gap between official and market prices has raised concerns among citizens over the effectiveness of price-control measures and enforcement by the relevant authorities.