Overview

• Retail tomato prices climbed to roughly Rs450–560 per kilogram over Oct 19–20, overtaking chicken in Karachi markets.
• Wholesalers and dealers cite the tail-end of the Balochistan crop, fewer Iranian arrivals, and halted Afghan shipments after border closures.
• The official list pegs tomatoes near Rs280 per kg, yet Sunday bachat bazaars also charged higher despite some stalls being sealed or fined.
• Traders report Karachi is relying heavily on Iranian supply for now, with a new Sindh harvest expected next month that could ease tightness if volumes arrive.
• Broader food costs are rising in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including sugar, flour, semolina and fruits, while poultry prices have eased due to overproduction and suspended exports to Afghanistan.