KARACHI: Government move to allow import of 50,000 tonnes of gram pulse did not help bring down its price and it rose further by Rs10 per kg at the retail.

White mash has also been crawling up for the last few months.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved on Thursday import of 50,000 tonnes of gram pulse to control its prices in the local market.

The ECC attributed hike in prices to lower domestic production.Surprisingly, provisional figures in the Economic Survey 2014-2015 revealed that during the year, the gram pulse recorded production of 484,000 tonnes (July-March 201415) against the production of 399,000 tonnes during July-March 2013-14, an increase of 21.3 per cent due to increase in area and favourable weather conditions.

The ministry last week said the gram production was declining because of unfriendly weather conditions in spring season. Market people were perplexed over the data and the opinion expressed by the ECC.

Consumers are now paying R s130per kg for the gram pulse which was available at Rs120 last week. Before Eidul Fitr, it was available at Rs100 and earlier in 2015, its price was Rs75-80.

According to Commissioner Karachi`s fortnightly price list, retail price of gram pulse has been fixed at Rs105 per 1(g in September.

The price hardly existsin any area.

Retailers and wholesalers were of the view that the import of 50,000 tonnes may cost higher due to hike in its price in the international market. Gram pulse is imported from Australia and Ethiopia.

In other commodities, consumerswitnessed another sharp jump in mash price to Rs190-200 per kg after witnessing a persistent jump over the last few months.

Earlier this year, its price hovered between Rs135 and 140. The Karachi administration increased the price of white mash to Rs179 for the current fortnight as compared to Rs169 per 1(g prevailing between Sept 1 and 15.

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), overall import of pulses jumped to 144,480 tonnes ($87 million) in July-August 20142015 from 97,501 ($60m) in the same period last year.