The rising prices of ghee and cooking oil in Pakistan have added to the difficulties faced by low income households, with citizens anxiously waiting for a reduction in prices.
According to market sources, the price of first-grade ghee and cooking oil in the open market has reached Rs598 per kilogram, while cooking oil is being sold at a record high of Rs618 per litre.
Sources said second grade ghee is available at Rs540 per kilogram and cooking oil at Rs560 per litre, while third-grade ghee and oil are being sold at Rs470 per kilogram.
Citizens said the continuous increase in the prices of daily essential items is severely affecting household budgets and urged the government to provide immediate relief to the public.
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SPI climbs as chicken, diesel and flour lead increases
Pakistan’s short-term inflation recorded another rise in the latest weekly data, with the Sensitive Price Indicator showing an increase of 0.79 per cent for the week ending May 07, 2026, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
The Sensitive Price Indicator tracks the movement of 51 essential commodities across 50 markets in 17 cities. It is updated weekly and is closely watched as a quick measure of inflation trends, helping assess changes in essential living costs in near real time.
The latest figures show that pressure mainly came from food items and fuel costs, which continued to affect household budgets.
Chicken prices saw the sharpest jump during the week, rising by 12.82 per cent. Diesel went up by 5.10 per cent, while wheat flour increased by 3.42 per cent. Petrol also moved higher by 1.66 per cent.
Other items that became costlier included fresh milk, curd, beef, mutton, tea, potatoes, washing soap and cigarettes, though most of these rose at a slower pace.
Some relief in vegetable prices
Not all items moved upward. Prices of tomatoes dropped by 7.08 per cent, offering some relief in kitchen costs. Garlic, eggs, LPG, pulses, onions, rice and gur also saw small declines over the week.
Out of 51 monitored items, 22 became more expensive, 14 became cheaper, while 15 remained unchanged. This shows a mixed trend in weekly inflation pressures.
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