Caterers jack up prices ahead of Ashura

All catering food shops in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have significantly increased the prices of rice and korma cauldrons on the eve of Muharramul Haram 9-10. Some catering shops have even stopped receiving orders due to the rush as devotees serve religious offerings (food and drinks distribution) to the participants of Muharram processions and gatherings.

Catering food shops have set the price of a plain pilaf (Pulao) cauldron at Rs9,000, chickpea pilaf cauldron at Rs11,000, vegetable pilaf cauldron at Rs10,200, chicken pilaf cauldron at Rs18,000, beef pilaf cauldron at Rs16,000, mutton pilaf cauldron at Rs22,500, chicken biryani cauldron at Rs20,000, vegetable biryani at Rs16,500, chicken korma cauldron at Rs15,500, beef korma cauldron at Rs16,000, mutton korma cauldron at Rs26,500, sweet rice cauldron at Rs14,000, and Kabuli pilaf cauldron at Rs30,000.

Catering food shop owner Naveed Abbasi says after the new budget, prices of rice, gas cylinders, hot spices, red chillies, salt, ghee, oil wood and chicken meat have increased by 25 to 50%. Secondly, there is a rush of orders due to Muharram, Muharram and Jashan Milad being big religious events, and Ashura Muharram is also the reason for the increase in prices, he adds.

Citizens Hasnain Ali and Kumail Hassan, who ordered the cauldrons, said that although the prices of rice cauldrons had increased significantly, distributing food on the occasion of Muharram was essential. “Prices don’t matter when the respect and devotion for Muharram and Ashura are concerned,” they added.

Catering shop owner Faisal Majeed said that from today onward they cooking cauldrons day and night to serve their customers.