Fried items rule iftar spread

Citizens swarm pakora, samosa vendors right before maghrib

ISLAMABAD:

As the holy month of Ramazan continues, markets across the federal capital are witnessing a dramatic surge in crowds shortly before the evening call to prayer.

Residents are flocking to popular marketplaces to buy freshly prepared traditional snacks for iftar, creating bustling and sometimes chaotic scenes at food stalls. In the final hour before the Maghrib prayer, long queues form at stalls selling popular Ramazan delicacies such as samosa, pakora and jalebi.

These items remain staples for breaking the fast, with their demand rising sharply during the fasting month. Major commercial hubs including Aabpara Market, Melody Market, markets in Sector G-9, as well as Jinnah Super Market and Super Market become particularly crowded during this period.

Shopkeepers say the sudden rush places immense pressure on vendors who must prepare large quantities of snacks within a short time. Talking to the media, Sadiq, a traditional snack shop owner at Aabpara Market, said that demand increases sharply just before iftar. "We try our best to serve everyone, but the crowds can sometimes become overwhelming," he said. 

He added that despite concerns about rising inflation and increasing food prices, many residents continue to purchase traditional snacks several times a week during Ramazan. According to him, pakoras, aloo samosas and jalebi remain the most sought-after items because they are comparatively cheaper than chicken samosas, minced meat samosas and chicken rolls.

He said that pakoras are commonly sold in markets at around Rs700 to Rs750 per kg, while aloo samosas are priced between Rs600 and Rs650 per kg. Jalebi is also available within a similar price range of Rs600 to Rs650 per kg.