‘People will be less charitable’

Grocers predict inflation to decrease philanthropic tendencies in Ramazan

KARACHI:

Rising food prices have also affected the free distribution of rations for deserving families by philanthropists, shopkeepers said during a survey of the city's wholesale market of Jodia Bazaar.

According to vendors, ration pack orders have reduced significantly, indicating donor exhaustion due to the high cost of kitchen essentials. They said that the price of a pack of 10 kitchen essentials, which they provided for Rs4,000 last year, has increased by Rs2,000 to Rs 6,000.

According to Karachi Retail Grocers Group General Secretary Muhammad Farid Qariashi, the most significant increase in the prices of edible items has occurred in edible oil. A litre pack of branded cooking oil now costs Rs490, he said.

The general secretary added that cooking oil is the top-selling item in Ramazan due to the love for pakoras, samosas, spring rolls and other such fried items Among the essential items going in Ramazan ration pack, the price of flour has gone up by Rs10 to Rs75/kg. Also, medium-quality rice, which was earlier selling for Rs160/kg, was now available for Rs170 per kg.

Similarly, chickpeas were dearer by Rs25 at Rs300 per kg, gram flour went up by Rs30 at Rs210 per kg, red sherbat was up Rs20 at Rs280 per kg.

Moreover, Ramazan essential dates of medium quality now cost Rs220 for 0.5kg, siwayyan Rs80, sugar at Rs95 per kg, lentils at Rs190 per kg and a five kg carton of oil at Rs2450 are selling at these rates.

The ration pack containing these basic items was sold last year at Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,000 and is now Rs 5,900.

Grocers said unlike the past, people now donate a limited amount of rations due to inflation.

Muhammad Farid Qureshi said that ration pack orders have dropped by about 50% during the last two years. Last year, the trend of ration packs fell by 20 to 25%, and orders are getting less by 30% this year.

Most of the orders received contain tea leaves, powdered milk, and other items, and only essential items are included in the ration pack.

Oil has been used more in Ramazan, which has doubled now compared to last year. Similarly, the price of chickpeas, gram flour, and dates has also increased. Manufacturers of wholesale aid packages in Ramadan say that donors are also adding relatively low-cost items to their packs due to high prices.

Most supermarkets and online companies are preparing rations.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2022.