Soaring fruit prices squeeze low-income Pakistanis as inflation persists
Fruit hawker Mohammad Irfan, who operates a pushcart in Lahore, described how soaring prices have made it nearly impossible for lower-income families to afford even seasonal fruits.
"Mangoes, for example, now cost 250 to 300 rupees per kilogram," Irfan said. "How can an ordinary person afford to eat them now? Plums are 500 rupees a box. A poor person cannot buy these—he has to feed his children, pay for petrol, or meet his basic needs."
The comments reflect broader inflationary pressures gripping Pakistan's economy. Official data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows consumer price index inflation stood at 11.1 percent year-on-year in June, easing slightly from 11.66 percent in May but still significantly above government projections. Transport costs surged 36.78 percent annually in May, while housing, water, electricity, and gas rose 16.78 percent.
Fresh fruit prices have been particularly volatile. According to wholesale market data, average wholesale mango prices in Pakistan have jumped to 0.67 USD per kilogram in 2026, up from 0.42 USD in 2025—a nearly 60 percent increase. Apricot wholesale prices also rose sharply to 0.77 USD per kg in 2026 from 0.55 USD in 2025.
The price surge has hit low-income consumers hardest. Vendors across fruit markets are selling mangoes, apples, and other fruits at rates far exceeding official price lists, with retailers citing supply constraints and rising wholesale costs. Some retailers have stopped stocking certain fruits altogether due to unaffordable wholesale prices.
The government has projected average inflation of 8.2 percent for the current fiscal year, but analysts note that food and energy costs remain stubbornly high. The State Bank of Pakistan has kept its benchmark policy rate at 10.5 percent, citing steady headline inflation and improving economic growth prospects.
For daily-wage earners like Irfan's customers, however, the macroeconomic data offers little comfort. "A poor man cannot afford these luxuries," Irfan said. "He has to choose between feeding his children and buying fruit."