Lahore's winter fish feast gets costlier

Sewal sells for Rs2,500 per kg as families struggle with rising food costs

LAHORE:

A sharp increase in fish prices amid rising inflation has made the popular winter delicacy increasingly unaffordable for ordinary consumers, with rates of traditional and river fish climbing substantially as the cold season begins.

Despite the high prices, families have started visiting Lahore's fish market to buy freshwater, farm-raised and marine fish according to their budgets. Parents are particularly interested in varieties with fewer bones, including Sewal, Pari and Bangash, for their children.

With the onset of winter, activity at the fish market has picked up, attracting customers from different walks of life. However, many shoppers have described the latest price increases as an additional burden on household budgets.

A full-sized Sewal fish is selling for Rs2,500 per kg, while the smaller variety costs Rs1,500 per kg.

Khagga is priced at Rs1,400 per kg, while large-sized local Khagga sells for Rs1,300 per kg and the smaller variety for Rs500.

Bangash fish is available for Rs500 per kilogram, while full-sized Chira costs Rs450 per kilogram. Pari fish, commonly used to prepare minced fish meat, is selling for Rs650 per kg.

Farm-raised black Rohu is priced between Rs300 and Rs1,000 per kg, depending on its size. Sewal and Fauji Khagga are also used to prepare fish fingers and fish chips because they contain fewer small bones.

Families often prefer Sewal, Pari and Fauji Khagga for children, as these varieties have a single prominent bone that can be removed during cleaning.

The fish market also supplies prepared fish to shops across the city.

Workers clean the fish, remove the heads and other unwanted parts, cut the flesh into portions, apply spices and freeze it for delivery to shopkeepers according to their requirements.

These preparations are used by vendors selling fried and gram-flour-coated fish in local markets.

Fish heads are also purchased by small and large restaurants for preparing fish soup. They are sold separately to ordinary customers for Rs80 per kilogram.

The market operates throughout the day, serving both retail customers and wholesale traders.

Retail buyers generally visit between 11am and 9pm, while commission agents and wholesale traders conduct their business from 11pm until around 3am.