Tomatoes turn luxury in Pakistan: Rs 75 per piece amid record price surge

Tomatoes become Pakistan’s luxury item

Pakistan is grappling with record inflation, making it increasingly difficult for citizens to afford even basic food items. Prices of essential commodities have surged sharply, with tomatoes now selling for an astonishing Rs 600 per kilogram, a 400% increase in just one month.

The steep rise has sparked frustration nationwide and even caused uproar in parliament, where lawmakers have called for loans to buy tomatoes. Some members nostalgically recalled the days when Pakistan imported cheaper tomatoes from India.

A video circulating on social media shows a Pakistani MP holding up a tomato in parliament, saying, “It was very difficult to bring this tomato here. Thanks to our colleague Farukh Sahib for arranging it. This tomato costs Rs 75.”

Border closure drives price surge

The surge in food prices, particularly tomatoes, is largely attributed to the closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Since 11 October, clashes along the border and subsequent Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan have halted cross-border trade, worsening the supply shortage. A recent peace dialogue in Istanbul also failed to ease tensions, keeping the 2,600-kilometre frontier sealed and trade paralysed.

Analysts estimate that the border closure is costing both countries about $1 million a day. The two nations trade roughly $23 billion worth of goods annually, including fresh produce, medicines, grains, sugar, meat, and dairy products. With imports from India suspended, Pakistan relies heavily on Afghanistan for tomatoes — a supply chain now crippled by the ongoing border blockade.

Vegetable prices skyrocket nationwide

According to The Express Tribune, vegetable prices across Pakistan have surged to record highs: garlic Rs 400/kg, ginger Rs 750/kg, peas Rs 500/kg, and onions Rs 120/kg. Even green coriander now sells for Rs 50 a small bunch, underscoring the deepening cost-of-living crisis.