KARACHI, Feb 19: Like all other religious occasions, Muharram has also its economic significance when demand of commodities like pulses, flour varieties, rice, sugar, wheat, juices, dry fruits, spices, etc. , shoot up by 25 per cent. The most significant increase of 80-100 per cent is witnessed in milk demand, while meat demand rises by 10-15 per cent as compared to normal days.

Every religious occasion (either of mourning or happiness) is observed with zeal and fervour, thus boosting economic activities, fuelled by consumers' sentiments. Muharram too paves way some market activities despite its sad and sentimental link attached to it because of the Shahadat of Hazrat Imam Hussain.

A large number of people distribute Haleem, Kithra and Sharbat (soft drink) among the poor, as well as faithful, relatives and neighbours. Besides, many people arrange Nazr and Niaz by distributing Biryani and Qorma with Sheermal, Taftan or Roti.

People commence their buying activities from the first of Muharram, which pick up as Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, nears. The trend of buying commodities continues even after the Ashura but not at the same pace as witnessed during the 10 days. Retailers said that buying of commodities gathers momentum from Seventh of Muharram.

Wholesalers, retailers, shopkeepers and market forces fully utilize the situation to cash the opportunity in making windfall from the consumers by demanding higher prices without assigning any reasons.

Market forces know that irrespective of artificial increase in prices by the retailers in Muharram, consumers, already hit by rising inflation, will defiantly purchase the items at any cost.

Sudden increase in milk prices on the eve of Muharram is a clear jerk on the customers' sentiments, and the authorities concerned cannot take action as their officers lack magisterial powers.

Milk prices are supposed to go up from March 1, 2005 but clever retailers had already started demanding Rs28 per litre a few days back. Yogurt is selling at Rs40 per kg.

Milk is a main item, being heavily used in making sweet drinks in the Muharram. A milk seller in North Nazimabad said his sale shoots up to 40 maund than 12 maund in normal days. One can guess the sale of big retailers who sell 50-100 maund of milk a day in normal days.

"A buyer, who usually buys two litres a day, purchases 4-5 litres these days, while a regular customer of half litre milk increases its limit to one litre in Muharram," he added. "No matter what is the rate of milk, people buy it in huge quantities in Muharram and especially a day ahead of Ashura," he said.

"The rate of milk is set to touch Rs 28-30 per litre from March 1, but people will definitely not curtail their buying limit which the dairy farmers know it very well that is why they have been frequently increasing the prices for the last few years," he said adding that milk is selling at higher prices in some areas and people are buying it without any protest or hesitation.

A retailer in F.B. Area offered a different view. He said because of increase in milk rates in various parts of the city, demand has not been as hot as used to be a few years back.

He said that the demand of milk at a shop, which usually sells 20 maund a day of milk, accelerates by just two maund to 22 maund in Ashura season. Perhaps people are refraining of making sweet drink (Sharbat) on a larger scale because of extraordinary chilling weather this year. Besides, the regular daily supply from a buffalo also comes down in the winter season as compared to summer season.

General Secretary, Karachi Retail Grocers Group (KRGG), Mohammad Farid Qureishi said the demand of wheat, pulses, squashes, sooji, maida, sugar, some dry fruits etc surge by 25 per cent in Muharram as compared to normal days.

He thinks that the pace of procuring these items for Haleem or Kithra has not been gaining momentum for the last one or two years because of rising prices. If the prices had been on the decline, then the demand of Haleem's ingredients would have gone up by 50 per cent in the current year.

Inflation in the last seven months of 2004-2005 had been squeezing the hopes of general public for buying essential items with a free hand. Inflation in July 2004 was 9.33 followed by 9.25 in August, nine in September, 8.7 in October, 9.26 in November, 7.37 in December and 8.51 per cent in January 2005.

He said that many people now prefer to give away Niaz and Nazr in a small way instead of making huge purchases for Haleem because of rising prices. Vice president of Meat Merchants Welfare Association (MMWA), Haji Sirajuddin Qureishi said that the demand of meat (buffalo, bachia and cow) goes up by 10-15 per cent.

A few years back, the demand of meat used to rise by 50 per cent in Ashura days but with the meteoric rise in prices in the last few years, consumers have become reluctant to make Haleem in a grand way. Now many people prefer to arrange chicken Qorma or Biryani for Nazr or Niaz purposes.

As many as 2,000-2,500 bachia and 700-800 bufallo, cows etc are slaughtered in Karachi daily. During Muharram, the number of bachia slaughtering rises by a meagre 100-200 animal more from the original daily slaughtering, while in bigger animals - 200-300 more animals are slaughtered from the actual daily slaughtering.

General Secretary of MMWA, Iqbal Qurieshi had a different view. He said meat sales of big animals usually remain mediocre from "Eidul Azha to Ashura" as many people have enough stocks in their freezers and refrigerators which they had piled up for making Haleem and other dishes in Muharram.

However, he did not agree that the meat sellers jack up prices on this occasion by Rs10-20 per kg, saying that prices were already flying high for the last many months.

Roti, Taftan and Sheermal makers also enjoy a heyday during the 10 days of Muharram and especially in the last days when demand picks up by not less than 50 per cent as compared to normal days due to heavy orders by the customers.

Caterers, who do not have any orders for marriage and valima ceremonies in Muharram, continue their business activities by getting orders for Haleem, Kitchra, Biryani and Qorma.

There are many rich and philanthropists in our society who pay homage to Iman Hussain in a different way. They acquire costly and heavy weight cows and buffalos in large quantities every year and prepare 100s of deg of Haleem, Kitchra, Biryani and Qorma for distribution among the poors.

Mithai (Sweets) is another item which is distributed as Nazr and Niaz in case a person cannot afford the cost of making Haleem, Biryani etc in larger quantities. The demand of Mithai also goes up by 10-30 per cent in Muharram depending on the locality as compared to normal days.