ISLAMABAD: As the cold winds of the winter season have started blowing after the first rain spell of the season, the demand for popular winter delights has registered a significant increase, with the majority of citizens buying a variety of dry fruits.
It is the regular tradition for most people to consume different dry fruits during the winter due to their much-needed nutritional value.
Most families consider eating dry fruits during family gatherings and interactions an essential tradition. At the same time, these are served with tea or ‘qehwa’ for the regular guests in some areas of the country as a gesture of hospitality and protocol.
However, the prevailing internationally induced inflation has increased the prices of different food items in Pakistan and impacted people’s purchasing capacity.
The prices of dry fruits, including peanuts, almonds, pine nut, walnuts, pistachio, apricot, cashew, dried figs, and raisin, have witnessed an upward trend over the last few years, while pine nut has left the others behind in terms of rising prices.
Muhammad Nawaz, a dry fruit seller at Karachi company, said that he sells almonds (without shell) at Rs. 2,000 per kg, pine nuts at Rs. 6,500 per kg, walnut at Rs. 600, pistachio (Irani) for Rs. 3,000, dry apricot for Rs. 1,000, dried figs for Rs. 1,400 and raisin for Rs. 900, dates for Rs.600 and cashews for Rs. 2,300.
Talking to APP, Hajira Khatoon, a customer at a dry fruits shop at Aabpara Market, said, “It has become our routine from the last many years to buy the whole stock of dry fruits, especially peanuts, almonds and walnuts for the season as the family members especially children like to eat these with tea.”
Considering the health benefits of dry fruits, I always buy dry fruits in bulk, but the exorbitant rates of dry fruits have limited our purchasing capacity.
Ahmed Ali, a government servant, said, “Since the prices of dry fruits are surging every season, it seems that this will become a commodity of a certain segment of society that would be able to afford buying these.” He said that they were habitually eating dry fruits with green tea daily, but now they cannot afford to buy these due to high rates.
He said every kind of dry fruit has its nutritional value, like almonds are suitable for the eyes and walnuts for the brain. Surprisingly, despite local production, many dry fruits are costly and out of reach of the common man. APP
