As Ramadan began, the prices of spices skyrocketed, leaving citizens in Multan struggling to afford essentials for sehri and iftar.
The surge in prices of key spices has created a wave of concern among local residents, with some items now being sold at exorbitant rates. Cloves have reached Rs3200 per kilogram, black pepper is priced at Rs2300, garam masala at Rs1800, and both red chilli and turmeric were being sold for Rs700 per kilogram.
A woman citizen expressed frustration, saying, "The prices of spices, such as red chilli, should be reduced. These spices are essential for cooking, especially for curries. What can we, the poor, make without them?"
Another citizen, who visited the market just a week ago, mentioned, "I came here last week to buy spices, but now, everything has gone up by Rs30 to Rs40 ."
Traders, however, explained that the rise in prices was linked to the increasing costs in global markets. "Spices like black pepper come from Vietnam, dried coriander and dried plums from Iran. Cloves are imported from India. We have to pay customs duties, which causes the fluctuations in prices," said a local shopkeeper.
The citizens had urged the government to take concrete measures to reduce the costs of spices.
