With the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, the rates of daily use items have sky-rocketed while the profiteers and hoarders seem to be looking to gain maximum benefits from people's helplessness. The Karachi markets have witnessed a significant increase of the consumers in general, and the food sector in particular at the advent of the Holy month of Ramadan.
Wholesalers and retailers, particularly of fruits and vegetables, enjoyed a free hand to fleece the consumers in the holy month despite of all the claims of officials. Fruit and vegetable prices have started climbing up ahead of Ramadan and the retailers expressed fear that they may become dearer in next couple of days. Like past, this year also the government appears to have flopped in controlling the prices even before Ramadan. The country is already in the grip of exuberant high prices of daily used commodities while the advent of Ramadan has further aggravated the situation taking the prices of fruits and vegetables increase and much beyond the purchasing power of the common man.
In contrast, most of the other sectors experience a significant decline, due to the fact, that the month of Ramadan coincides with the summer vacation on the one hand, and the decline of activities of most businesses on the other. People have started shopping for food especially highest sale was witness in dates, Besan, Dal Chana, chat masala and cooking oil, sugar, cold drinks, and Sharbats. Noting that people buy extra food to fill their tables with full of food for Iftar and "Sahar times, shopkeepers said.
They expect that more vegetables and fruits will be sold during Ramadan as people will prefer lighter meals during the hot days of June and July. "We are expecting further increases in our sales with the start of Ramadan." Trades in food markets anticipate more business with people shopping for food more to embellish their dinner tables. Ramadan is the month when people prepare "Iftar" meticulously, treat each other to Iftar meals and buy food packages for the poor. Therefore, Ramadan means more dynamism in the food market.
The skyrocketing rates of fruits and vegetables consumed daily by large segment of the population was attributed by the retailer to high cost of transport, hoarding of fruits and vegetables by traders to make money in coming days of Ramadan. The consumption of onion, green chili, garlic, ginger and tomato increases during Ramadan and alleged that hoarding of items have already been started. According to a survey, the prices of dates in wholesale market Rs 1200 to Rs 4000 per 40 kg and in retail it was offered at Rs 80 to Rs 300 per kg , Besan at retail offered at Rs 100 to Rs 130 per kg and Dal Chana Rs 80 to Rs 120 per kg
The prices of black pepper also witnessed an increase of Rs 12 per kg for it was sold at Rs 72 as compared to its previous week's rate of Rs 60. Apple golden was sold at Rs 180 per kg, apple (gajani) at Rs 110, banana at Rs 70 to 90 per dozen, mango (Sindhri) Rs 100 and Anwar Ratol at Rs 120 per kg, Langar Rs 70 per kg, Dasari Rs 80 per kg, peach Rs 120 to Rs 140 per kg Prices of ladyfinger, bottle gourds, green peas; cauliflower; line and other vegetables, which are usually sold at Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg now offered at Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg, bitter melon (karela) at Rs 60 per kg, ridge gourd (turai) is available at Rs 60 per, cabbage (bund gobi) is Rs 80 a kg, Okra (Bhindi) Rs 70 per kg and Spinach (Palak) Rs 75 per kg. A bundle of coriander which is generally sold at Rs 10 is being sold at Rs 15, tomatoes ranges from Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg few days back it was offered at Rs 50 per kg , onion Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg depending on quality of onion, green chilly Rs 30 per 100 grams and lemon Rs 200 per kg to Rs 220 per kg , ginger Rs 200 per kg , garlic from Rs 150 to Rs 200 per kg. Prices of potato remain stagnate at Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kg few depending on size and quality. A customer said that it is the pattern that rates of essential items register upwards trend around one or two weeks before Ramadan.