Business Desk 
Nov 27, 2025
Pine nuts (chilgoza) prices in Lower South Waziristan seen a major drop this year, decreasing from Rs10,000 per kg to Rs3,000 per kg.
Market experts said this sudden decrease in price has surprised both traders and farmers who rely on the chilgoza harvest for their yearly income.
Why prices of chilgoza dropped in Pakistan?
The price drop is linked to several key reasons:
- This season have recorded a much larger harvest than expected. It should be noted that when supply increases rapidly, prices naturally go down as the market becomes full.
- International demand for Pakistani pine nuts has slowed. Buyers from abroad are placing fewer orders, which reduces the overall market value.
One of the major issue is the continuous interference faced by traders during transportation. Many trucks carrying chilgoza are stopped at multiple checkpoints, particularly in cities like Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Local traders stated that these delays and checks have impacted the business. Some traders are even concerned that if the situation continues, farmers may not be able to recover their investment next year.
Multiple farmers depend on pine nuts as their main source of income, and such low prices can cause financial pressure for the entire region.
