The prices of pulses in Pakistan’s local wholesale market have seen a notable decline due to falling global prices, providing much-needed relief for consumers struggling with high food costs.
According to the Wholesale Grocers Association, the price of black chickpeas has decreased by Rs50 per kilogram since September 2024. The price of dal chana is also expected to drop further, with projections suggesting a decline from the current rate of Rs360 per kilogram to around Rs300.
Similarly, dal mash has seen a reduction of Rs75, going from Rs500 per kilogram to Rs425. The price of first-grade Kabuli white chickpeas has dropped from Rs400 to Rs355 per kilogram, while small-sized Kabuli chickpeas are down from Rs320 to Rs295 per kilogram.
On the global market, pulse prices have fallen by over $100 per ton, from $860 to $750 or lower, contributing to the easing of local prices.
Rauf Ibrahim, Chairman of the Wholesale Grocers Association, explained that the price drop in pulses is partly due to a pause in purchasing by major buyers like India and Sri Lanka.
In a related development, the Utility Stores Corporation has announced a significant price cut for sugar, lowering it by Rs130 per kilogram—from Rs153 to Rs140—amid easing inflation and positive economic indicators. This follows the IMF’s World Economic Outlook Report 2024, which forecasts a potential reduction in inflation and unemployment in Pakistan in the near future.
These recent price reductions in essential commodities are expected to bring some relief to Pakistani consumers facing high living costs.
