Iftar spreads deprived of samosas, pakoras
Usually crowded food stalls left desolate amid virus precautions
PHOTO: REUTERS
KARACHI:
A traditional Iftar table looks somewhat like a scrumptious buffet of fried delights with a variety of pakoras, samosas, spring rolls and jalebis.
Temporary stalls set up with massive woks, deep-frying an endless supply of food, tend to be common sights outside many shops in Ramazan - complete with crowds competing to buy the fried goodies.
But just as the pandemic has disrupted every other aspect of life, so too has the Iftar spread been disturbed. Gone, from most tables, are the delights that came from these shops.
And so, those who waited the whole year for Ramazan, hoping to make decent money by selling Iftar food at these stalls, have been left disappointed.
For Abdul Hameed, who prepares and sells these items, the lockdown and its restrictions have dealt a serious blow to his business, as the government limited the hours of operation until 4pm. Normally, his sales begin after 5pm.
"Several people have opted to sell fruits this year instead of setting up these stalls," he said, adding that 80 per cent of them had travelled back to their hometowns amid the lockdown. "There are a few people still selling items between 2pm and 4pm, but they are unable to generate enough revenue for themselves."
Some, though, have turned to social media to take orders for homemade pakoras, samosas and rolls to be delivered directly to their clients - healthier and safer in the current circumstances, as this means the customers don't have to step out of their houses. Plus, as Nadia, one such entrepreneur, points out, homemade food is often better in both taste and quality.
Nadia and her husband, Syed Faisal, had been supplying food to offices before the lockdown. When their sales dropped, the couple shifted their focus to selling Iftar items as Ramazan started. According to Faisal, many people have now turned to preparing these foods at home on their own, but some still prefer buying ready-to-cook items. And that is where they come in, delivering to doorsteps.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2020.
A traditional Iftar table looks somewhat like a scrumptious buffet of fried delights with a variety of pakoras, samosas, spring rolls and jalebis.
Temporary stalls set up with massive woks, deep-frying an endless supply of food, tend to be common sights outside many shops in Ramazan - complete with crowds competing to buy the fried goodies.
But just as the pandemic has disrupted every other aspect of life, so too has the Iftar spread been disturbed. Gone, from most tables, are the delights that came from these shops.
And so, those who waited the whole year for Ramazan, hoping to make decent money by selling Iftar food at these stalls, have been left disappointed.
For Abdul Hameed, who prepares and sells these items, the lockdown and its restrictions have dealt a serious blow to his business, as the government limited the hours of operation until 4pm. Normally, his sales begin after 5pm.
"Several people have opted to sell fruits this year instead of setting up these stalls," he said, adding that 80 per cent of them had travelled back to their hometowns amid the lockdown. "There are a few people still selling items between 2pm and 4pm, but they are unable to generate enough revenue for themselves."
Some, though, have turned to social media to take orders for homemade pakoras, samosas and rolls to be delivered directly to their clients - healthier and safer in the current circumstances, as this means the customers don't have to step out of their houses. Plus, as Nadia, one such entrepreneur, points out, homemade food is often better in both taste and quality.
Nadia and her husband, Syed Faisal, had been supplying food to offices before the lockdown. When their sales dropped, the couple shifted their focus to selling Iftar items as Ramazan started. According to Faisal, many people have now turned to preparing these foods at home on their own, but some still prefer buying ready-to-cook items. And that is where they come in, delivering to doorsteps.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2020.