PESHAWAR: Vegetable prices have surged across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following recent floods and heavy rains, with tomato prices crossing Rs400 per kilogram and reaching as high as Rs500 per kg in some retail markets.
The sharp increase has added to the financial burden on consumers, who are already grappling with rising food inflation.
At Peshawar’s vegetable market, tomatoes are selling for more than Rs400 per kg, while premium-quality tomatoes are being retailed at Rs450 to Rs500 per kg in various parts of the city.
The price hike has also affected other vegetables. According to market sources, cucumbers are selling for more than Rs250 per kg, while zucchini is priced between Rs180 and Rs200 per kg. Okra is also retailing at Rs180 to Rs200 per kg, large taro roots at Rs180 to Rs200 per kg, small taro roots at around Rs150 per kg, and round gourds at approximately Rs150 per kg.
Traders attributed the spike in prices to flood-related damage to vegetable crops in upper districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Swat, Chitral, Malakand, Upper and Lower Dir, and Charsadda.
They said heavy rainfall and flooding had not only damaged standing crops but also disrupted road networks, severely affecting the transportation of fresh produce to major markets.
The resulting decline in supply has led to a sudden increase in vegetable prices across Peshawar and several other districts, leaving consumers struggling with higher food costs.
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