Rush for dates in Ramazan

Khajoor Bazaar offers dates from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran

KARACHI:

With the arrival of Ramazan, business is at peak in the country's largest market of dates Khajoor Bazaar located at Lea Market in the old city area. Date is an essential part of breaking the fast in Ramazaan.

Like every year, prices of dates have increased with the advent of the fasting month. Traders say high freight charges and depreciation of rupee have pushed up the price of imported dates by 30 to 40 per cent. While traders, wholesalers and retailers squabble over rates, the largest centre for buying and selling dates in Karachi is buzzing with flies and business activity. Khajoor Bazaar in the Lea Market area is considered as one of the oldest markets in Karachi. Some locals say that the bazaar dates back to preBritish era.

It was close to the ancient jetty of Ghasbandar (grass port) where seafarers brought dates from Arab countries on sail boats. Traders used to haul the delicacies from Karachi to other part of India.

The Ghasbandar jetty is no more, but the datetrade thrives. Dates from Sukkur, Khairpur, Panjgur, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia are available here. Until two decades ago, center consisted of one to two main streets. However, the market has now shifted to new building compounds and shops across the street and wholesale business has taken a different turn. Dates are sold at retail on stalls in the old streets. There are also some wholesale centers in the area. The number of temporary shops increases during Ramazan.

Large warehouses under the roadside residential buildings are wholesalers. Large importers also deal in the warehouses and centers. The increase in demand for imported dates during last few years has led to an increase in business activity in this part of the date market, and Suzukis and rickshaws loaded with dates are seen at those streets.

An estimated 50 to 60 tons of dates are sold daily in Lea Market's Khajoor Bazaar a few months before Ramazan, which is also supplied to other parts of the country. By Sha'ban, daily sales volume of dates reaches 100 to 150 tons, which increases further in the last days, depending on circumstances and price. According to traders, date trade booms from Sha'ban, Ramazan and Zill Hajj. Retailers stock in Shabaan and common people buy in Ramazan. However, during the Hajj month, people buy dates from Karachi and distribute to friends telling them they have brought it from Makkah and Madinah.

The most popular dates are bom from Iran commonly known as muzafati, next on the sale chart are Aseel Sukkur dates. Other notable varieties include Iranian zahidi, Basra, while the expensive varieties dates include Ajwa, Amber, Mabrum, and Sukri. With the advent of Ramazan, the prices of dates have started rising across the country. In the wholesale market of Lea Market, Aseell date Sukkur is available for Rs180/kg but it is sold at Rs240 and more in retail and much higher if packed and branded. Iranian muzafati dates are being sold from Rs350/kg to Rs600/kg.

In addition, Basra dates are being sold at a wholesale price of Rs400/kg to Rs450/kg in different parts of the city. Different varieties of dates imported from Saudi Arabia are being sold at Rs1,500/ kg. In addition, the popular Ajwa Khajoor goes for at least Rs1,700/kg and Amber for Rs 2,000/kg. Packets of Iranian dates are being sold in different parts of the city at a price of Rs50 more than last year.

These packets contain 380 to 400 grams of dates which cost from Rs260 to Rs280. Packed dates are soft and sweet and people of all ages love these dates. Transporters are also a key figure in the market. A trucking hub is nearby in Lyari, while for supply within the city, pickups and rickshaws are lined up to haul the cargo