Tomato Prices Jump to Rs 600/kg in Rawalpindi Amid Severe Supply Shortage

Rawalpindi – A dramatic surge in tomato prices has left shoppers reeling, as retail rates in the suburban areas of Rawalpindi have climbed to an unprecedented Rs 600 per kilogram, according to local market sources. 

The Situation on the Ground:

Vendors at the city’s wholesale and retail markets report a steep shortfall in tomato supply, prompting the sharp increase in prices

The president of the Sabzi Mandi Traders Union in Rawalpindi, Ghulam Qadir, stated: “The supply of tomatoes is low while demand is high, and tomatoes are no longer being imported from Afghanistan.” 

Smaller vegetable vendors have reportedly stopped selling tomatoes (alongside peas, garlic and other items) due to unaffordable wholesale costs.

What’s Causing It?

Multiple factors have converged to drive the spike:

Crop damage: A virus (the Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus) has devastated crops in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reducing output significantly. 

Flooding and adverse weather in key growing regions have delayed harvests and reduced overall yield. 

Disrupted trade and imports: Border tensions and logistical issues with neighbouring regions have curtailed tomato imports, squeezing supply further. 

Storage and transport deficiencies: Inadequate storage facilities and transport bottlenecks are exacerbating the shortages in fresh produce.

Impact on Consumers & Markets:

In some open markets, tomatoes are being sold at rates between Rs 450–500/kg, with suburban rates hitting Rs 550–600/kg. 

The price pressure isn’t confined to tomatoes: garlic has reached Rs 400/kg, ginger Rs 750/kg, peas Rs 500/kg. 

Households are feeling the pinch as a staple item becomes unaffordable for many, adding to the cost-of-living burden in the region.

Government Response / Market Oversight:

The district administration has reportedly stepped in: the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi, Hassan Waqar Cheema, announced personal monitoring of wholesale vegetable auctions. 

Approximately 30 price-control magistrates have been deployed in the district to oversee pricing and curb profiteering.

While such steps may help, traders caution that until the supply chain is replenished, price relief is unlikely.

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Outlook:

Industry analysts suggest that the situation may persist until new crops arrive from Sindh and other regions, and trade routes stabilise. Consumers in the meantime are being warned to brace for continued high prices.

Conclusion:

With tomatoes — once a modestly priced staple — now being sold for Rs 600 per kilogram in Rawalpindi’s markets, the surge underscores how vulnerable food supply chains are to weather, disease, trade disruptions and storage problems. Unless immediate steps are taken to restore supply and ease bottlenecks, the impact on household budgets and market stability could deepen.