Tomato prices have surged to as high as Rs. 500 per kilogram in Lahore, Karachi, and several other major cities, while limited imports from Iran have failed to ease prices.
According to market reports, retailers are selling both Iranian and Balochistan tomatoes for Rs. 450 to Rs. 500 per kilogram. A quarter kilogram (250 grams) is selling for Rs. 110 to Rs. 125, while smaller and unripe tomatoes are available for around Rs. 400 per kilogram.
The sharp increase has reduced consumer buying, with traders saying many people are purchasing smaller quantities. They said Rs. 50 to Rs. 60 is enough to buy only two or three small tomatoes, making the vegetable increasingly unaffordable for many families.
Tomato prices have continued to rise over the past few months. Earlier this month, prices crossed Rs. 300 per kilogram after ranging between Rs. 120 and Rs. 160 per kilogram during the third week of June. In April, tomatoes were widely available for Rs. 80 to Rs. 100 per kilogram.
Although imported tomatoes from Iran have started arriving, traders said the supply remains too limited to stabilize prices. Around 10 containers of Iranian tomatoes are arriving each day, far below market demand.
Traders also said nearly 30% of the imported tomatoes are damaged before reaching Karachi. They added that Iranian tomatoes soften more quickly and have a different taste than tomatoes grown in Sindh and Balochistan, making many retailers reluctant to stock them in large quantities.
The market is currently relying mainly on tomatoes from Balochistan, but traders said the province’s production is not enough to meet demand across the country.
Some relief is expected later in the season, as tomato cultivation has already started in Sindh, with harvesting likely to begin by mid-September. Sindh’s previous tomato crop ended in April, while crops from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were mostly consumed within those provinces during May and June, leaving limited supplies for other parts of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported a sharp decline in vegetable exports during FY2026. Pakistan exported 594,104 tons of vegetables worth $163 million, compared with 1.448 million tons valued at $367 million in FY2025. The figures highlight broader challenges facing Pakistan’s vegetable sector amid fluctuating production and supply constraints.
