Watermelon sales rise with mercury

Cheap nutritious fruit prevents heat stroke, exhaustion

ISLAMABAD: With the mercury rising , the sale of watermelons, a summer-specialty, is also witnessing a surge in sales as prices of the juicy fruit is less as compared to last year.

The nutritious fruit with sweet watery pink flesh and a lot of black seeds is in high demand and production this year is better  which is  the major reason for its lower prices in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.



Yasir Khan, a fruit seller at Sector G-7 Market said there was a greater supply this year due to handsome subsidy package given to farmers by the government. The watermelon was sold at Rs40 per kg last year, but it was now selling from Rs25 to Rs30 per kg.

"The fruit, equally popular among all age groups, is being sold in the local markets for the last 15 days and it will remain high in demand for a couple of months till monsoon sets in, which diminishes its original taste," he said.



"A truck load of watermelons is available in the market from Rs200,000 to Rs250,000, and it takes only about a week to get sold," Yasir said. He was of the view that watermelons sale would further rise during the holy month of Ramzan.

Dr Qasim Raza, a general physician, sharing watermelon's nutritious values said it reduced high blood pressure in overweight people and minimized the risk of heart attacks.

"More people could be saved from sunstroke if they take the water-rich fruit like watermelon, which helps in maintaining required water level in the body, besides several other benefits" he said. It also aide in reducing body weight, he added.



Dr Qasim, however, warned patients with high sugar levels to take this delicious fruit in consultation with their physicians. He especially recommended use of watermelon for those who had to work in the sun for a longer period of time to avoid heat stroke and dehydration. Imran Shehzad, a customer purchasing watermelon in Pir Wadhai Fruit Market, said the fruit was a blessing for the poor. Saleem Khan a security guard at a public school said due to meagre salary it was not possible for him to buy other expensive fruits but watermelon, 'a family feast' was still in his approach to beat the heat.  

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2018.