RAWALPINDI: A cup of tea now costs Rs40 in the garrison city after vendors raised the rates on the grounds that the sugar, gas and tea have become costly.

In some cafeterias and restaurants, the price of a cup of tea mentioned in their rate lists is Rs45.

According to a tea seller at a kiosk, the price has been revised from Rs30 to Rs40 due to rising costs of loose tea, tea bags, milk, sugar and gas, adding that the increase in tea price is almost 35 per cent.

“It is fair for the tea sellers to increase the price keeping in view the high cost of ingredients,” the vendor added.

He claimed that the price of milk had increased from Rs105 to Rs120 per litre, loose tea from Rs800 to Rs900 while the cost of a gas cylinder had risen from Rs1,500 to Rs3,000.

He said his earning had been badly affected and he was left with no choice but to increase the price of tea.

“In a single day, my total sale was Rs2,600 but when I calculated the profit, it was only Rs15,” Abdul Aziz, another tea seller, claimed.

He said the purpose of a business was to earn profit, therefore, they had no choice but to increase the price of a cup of tea.

The rise in the price of a cup of tea has had an impact on the business of small tea shops, as some of their regular customers have reduced their tea consumption from four to three cups per day, while others are considering quitting.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2021