The ongoing protest sit-ins in Sindh have severely affected the supply of potatoes and other food items, causing their prices to double. The protests on the National Highway have resulted in a decrease in the supply of potatoes, while the price of onions has seen a reduction.
Due to the disruption in the supply of potatoes, those coming from Punjab are not reaching the market. In the past three days, the price of potatoes has increased from 50 rupees per kilogram to 100 rupees per kilogram. On the other hand, the price of cucumbers (kheera) has risen from 50 rupees per kilogram to 150 rupees per kilogram, while ridge gourd (Tinda) is being sold at 300 rupees per kilogram.
The protest sit-ins have also led to an increase in the prices of lemons and green chilies. Lemons are being sold at 800 rupees per kilogram, and green chilies at 300 rupees per kilogram.
On the other hand, due to the affected supply of onions, their price has dropped to 20 rupees per kilogram, causing financial losses to farmers.
Potato wholesaler Imran Qureshi stated that due to the disruption in supply, there is a risk of further increases in potato prices. He mentioned that if the situation remains unchanged, potato prices could rise even more. Qureshi further explained that under the current circumstances, the availability of potatoes is failing to meet demand, which could lead to further price hikes.