Islamabad: Prices of dry fruits including almond, Pine-nut and pistachio skyrocketing as these things are the peak selling items in winter.
According to consumers, people belonging even to the middle class cannot even enter in dry-fruit shops. The dry fruits are now beyond the reach of a common man.
There is a continuous increase in the prices of dry fruits, “said a customer, Pine-nut (chilgoza) is being sold in the city market at Rs 2,500 to 3,000 per kilogram, pistachio with and without shell at Rs 1,200 and 1,800 per kg, respectively, variety of almond at Rs 350, Rs 470 and Rs 560 per kg, walnuts at Rs 300 to 350 per kg, grams at Rs 170 to 200 per kg, variety of kernel at Rs 750, Rs 850 and Rs 950 per kg, dried dates at Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kg and peanuts at Rs 200 per kg.
According to the dry fruit dealers, the shift in the weather conditions had not augmented the sale of dry fruits as compared to last years.
The increase in the prices is due to heavy transport charges and export of dry fruits is also another factor, they explained.
