Tomato prices have surged dramatically across Pakistan, putting a strain on household budgets as rates soar far beyond official levels in major cities.
In Karachi, tomatoes are being sold for between Rs500 and Rs700 per kilogram, despite the government’s fixed retail price of Rs322 per kg.
Vendors in areas such as Federal B Area reported prices of Rs650 per kg, while markets in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Burns Road saw prices peak at Rs700 per kg.
In Sindh’s Shaheed Benazirabad district, local traders said tomatoes reached as high as Rs600 per kg in Sakrand tehsil.
Faisalabad traders blamed the sharp increase on weak market regulation, claiming vendors were exploiting the lack of price checks. In the city’s markets, both peas and tomatoes were selling for around Rs500 per kg.
Peshawar also saw steep hikes, with tomato prices crossing multiple Rs100 marks and onions now selling above Rs100 per kg.
Meanwhile, Quetta remained relatively stable compared to other regions, where tomatoes were available for about Rs300 per kg.