Afghanistan teaches Pakistan a lesson, price of THIS vegetable becomes more expensive than Chicken, Shehbaz government to…

New Delhi: Bankrupt Pakistan is currently facing a severe financial crisis, and on top of that, the country is now grappling with another challenge. Tomato prices in Pakistan have surged to unprecedented levels. According to the reports, in most major cities, including Lahore and Karachi, tomatoes are now selling at a record Rs 700 per kilogram. Just a few weeks ago, tomatoes were being sold at Rs 100 per kilogram.

This major spike in the price of tomato has made life difficult for the common people. The rise in tomato prices is attributed both to local factors and disruptions in trade with Afghanistan.

According to Pakistan’s SAMAA TV, floods that have devastated crops across large parts of the country, disrupted trade, and supply shortages have driven tomato prices to record highs. The supply of tomatoes from Afghanistan to Pakistan has also been affected. Following border tensions and the suspension of Afghan exports, prices of tomatoes and several other vegetables have increased across Pakistan, particularly in major cities.

Here are some of the key details:

• A report by Sama TV states that the price of tomatoes has seen the biggest surge in Jhelum and Gujranwala in Punjab.
• In Jhelum, tomato prices have reached ₹700 per kilogram
• In Gujranwala, tomatoes are being sold at ₹575 per kilogram.
• In Faisalabad, tomato prices have jumped from ₹160 to ₹500 per kilogram.
• In Multan, tomatoes are being sold at ₹450 per kilogram, while the official government price list sets the maximum price at ₹170 per kilogram.
• In Lahore, tomatoes are priced at ₹400 per kilogram, far above the government-mandated price of ₹175.

Impact of Afghanistan

As per the reports, the recent floods are the reason behind the sharp spike in tomato prices. Shopkeepers say that a severe shortage in supply has caused prices to surge in the market. Meanwhile, traders in Quetta and Peshawar have cited the closure of trade routes with Afghanistan as the reason for the price increase.