ISLAMABAD: As winter sets in, dry fruit prices have skyrocketed in Pakistan including Rawalpindi and Islamabad amid tensions with Afghanistan, leaving consumers frustrated over unchecked profiteering and weak enforcement by district price control authorities.
Residents report that shopkeepers are arbitrarily inflating rates, exploiting the seasonal surge in demand, particularly in colder and hilly regions. Common complaints highlight the absence of official price lists at most outlets, allowing traders to charge whatever they deem fit.
Current market rates show peanuts at Rs450-650 per kg, pine nuts Rs7,000-14,000, almonds and cashews Rs3,000-4,000 each, walnuts Rs800-2,000, pistachios Rs3,000-4,000, raisins Rs700-1,000, and sesame sweets Rs600-800 per kg. Citizens allege many items are smuggled from Afghanistan and Iran, bypassing quality checks and enabling sale of substandard stock at premium prices.
Major markets in Rawalpindi (Narnkari Bazaar, Canning Road, Bank Road) and Islamabad (Aabpara, Jinnah Super, F-10, Bara Kahu) remain hotspots for overpricing. Consumers Shakil Sheikh, Zahid Khan, and Rizwan Abbasi urged immediate activation of price control committees to curb exploitation.
Despite earning $100 million annually by exporting just 10,000 tons against global demand of 1.05 million tons, domestic consumers continue to bear the brunt of unregulated pricing and poor oversight this winter.