Lang
Pakistani consumers are facing significant price hikes in ghee and cooking oil, compounding existing pressures from recent increases in petroleum prices.
The fresh surge in fuel costs directly translates to higher transportation and freight expenses, which in turn drives up the cost of essential goods, including food items.
Specifically, Grade-III ghee is currently selling for approximately Rs500 per kilogram, with supplies available below that level becoming increasingly difficult to find. Grade-II ghee has reached prices between Rs545 and Rs550 per kilogram, while premium Grade-I ghee is being sold for Rs595 to Rs600 per kilogram.
Cooking oil prices have also seen an upward trend, further straining household food budgets. The ripple effect of the latest fuel increase is expected to extend well beyond petrol pumps.
Higher fuel costs elevate logistics expenses, particularly for vehicles transporting food and other consumer goods from production and wholesale centers to retail markets. Consequently, ghee, cooking oil, vegetables, meat, and other daily necessities could face additional price pressure if transportation costs continue to rise.
This development follows earlier price increases for other staples such as chicken, mutton, beef, and eggs, leading to broader concerns about the overall cost of living. For middle- and low-income families, these escalating household expenses are creating another significant challenge. Consumers have appealed to the government for stricter market monitoring to ensure that traders do not exploit higher fuel costs as a justification for excessive profiteering.
The article also notes recent fuel price adjustments, effective from August 22 through August 24. Petrol prices rose by Rs3.81 per litre to Rs341.59, and High-Speed Diesel (HSD) jumped by Rs3.59 to Rs368.29 per litre.
Source: Daily Pakistan