Tomato prices in Pakistan continue to surge despite the arrival of imported supplies from Iran, with retail rates now ranging between Rs450 and Rs500 per kilogram.
Both Iranian and Quetta tomatoes are being sold at similar prices, while smaller and unripe tomatoes are available for around Rs400 per kilogram.
Retailers say many shopkeepers are avoiding Iranian tomatoes because they become soft quickly, spoil faster and have a different taste compared to locally grown produce.
The steep rise in prices has also affected consumers, with many buying only two or three small tomatoes for Rs50 to Rs60.
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Market figures show tomato prices have increased sharply over the past few months. Rates stood at Rs80 to Rs100 per kilogram in April, rose to Rs120 to Rs160 by the third week of June and crossed Rs300 per kilogram earlier this month.
According to tomato growers and former Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president Younis Soomro, imports from Iran remain limited, with around 10 containers reaching Karachi each day. He said nearly 30 percent of the imported tomatoes are already damaged before they arrive in the city.
Soomro said the market is currently relying on limited supplies from Balochistan, which are not enough to meet demand. He added that tomato production has recently started in Sindh, with the next crop expected to reach markets by mid-September. Meanwhile, crops from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are mostly consumed within their respective provinces.