<p>LAHORE: Sales of dry fruits picked up momentum with the change in weather as the first half sunny day of winter was observed in the city on Monday. Yet, like other edibles, some dry fruits are still out of the range of commoners because of their prices. Vendors at Bedian Road and Akbari Mandi, however, said prices of dry fruits have not been increased as much as those of other edibles. For example, the price of pine nuts (with shell) ranges from Rs2,000 to 2,200 per kilogramme presently, which was almost the same during the peak season last year, they said. Without shell, pine nuts are being sold at Rs3,500 per kg, they added</p> <p>Similarly, pistachio is available between Rs1,100 and 1,700 per kg, depending on its quality. Its old stocks are being sold at lower rates, while fresh supplies are fetching good prices. The price of cashew nuts (shell) is hovering between Rs1,300 and 1,500 per kg, cashew nuts (shell) slated Rs1,600 and 1,800 per kg and roasted cashew nuts (without shell) are being sold at Rs3,500 per kg. A variety of almonds is available in the market with different price ranges. Almond soft shell can be bought at Rs500 to 700 per kg, almond US (without shell) Rs950 to 1,000 per kg, almond Iran (without shell) Rs1,000 per kg and almond local at Rs1,100 per kg. A kilogramme of salted Afghani almond, which is coming from Chaman, has price varying from Rs1,000 to Rs1,200.</p> <p>The last dry fruit is not stirring taste buds of eaters living in the plain areas of Pakistan, though people in the hilly areas in Afghanistan love to nosh on the snack with Qehwa (Afghani tea) to protect them from the inclement coldness, said a local vendor. Further, a vendor said sales of walnut, peanut, raisin, fig and dry apricot are encouraging because mainly middle-income group consume these fruits. Local vendors said markets are full of these winter favourites because of their soaring consumption as compared to high-end dry fruits afforded by only high-income group. The assortments of both local and foreign (from neighbouring Iran and Afghanistan) have flooded markets with variable prices, they said. You can buy walnut (shell) between Rs350 and Rs500 per kg. Walnut (without shell) is relatively expensive with Rs800 to 1,000 per kg. Peanuts are priced from Rs200 to 350 per kg, raisin golden Rs500 per kg, raisin green from Rs600 to Rs700 per kg, fig dry from Rs600 to Rs750 per kg and dry apricot from Rs300 to 400 per kg.</p> <p> </p>