KARACHI, Aug 27: The demand for various commodities particularly milk, dry fruits, ghee, suji, maida etc., on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat has been contracting over the last few years which is the direct result of sharp increase in their prices due to surging inflation.

Traders said that about 25 per cent increase in demand of these items had been recorded as compared to 50 per cent three years back on this religious occasion.

Now, people in fewer numbers visit markets for procuring these items to prepare ‘Halwa’ and other items for distribution among the poor and relatives.

Inflationary trend in essential food items for the last few years, which is eating into savings of the salaried class, is considered the main culprit behind slowing down the buying of items related to Shab-e-Barat.

Exorbitant increase in gram pulse, milk and ghee and cooking oil prices has turned these essential items, required for preparing sweets, unaffordable for many faithfuls thus depriving them of observing this religious occasion in befitting manner.

Except some relief in sugar rates, consumers will be celebrating a costlier Shab-e-Barat which is falling on Tuesday night.

Rates of sweets made of pure desi ghee have climbed to Rs190-200 per kg while pistachio and almond related sweets now cost Rs240-280 per kg. In the absence of any official check, the sweet sellers have been enjoying a free hand in increasing the prices two times a year by Rs10 per kg.

Maida and suji are selling at Rs18 per kg same of last year in August, while gram pulse has surged by Rs4 per kg to Rs48 as against Rs44 per kg in the same last year. There is some relief in sugar which is currently priced at Rs30 per kg as compared to Rs36 in August last year.

The real hit to consumers’ pocket comes in ghee and cooking oil prices of five-kg tin which now sells at Rs530 as against Rs415 in August last year, showing a jump of Rs115 per tin. The 16-kg tin, which was priced at Rs900 last year, now being retailed at Rs1,290.

There has been no change in dry fruits prices. Iranian pista is selling at Rs60 per 100 grams while American and Iranian almond are priced at Rs55 and Rs62 per 100 grams. Kishmish big and Kandhari are selling at Rs16 and Rs18 per 100 grams while Chuara is available at Rs10 per 100 grams.

General Secretary Karachi Retail Grocers Group (KRGG) Mohammad Farid Qurieshi said that three years back, the demand of these items used to register an increase of 50 per cent just ahead of Shab-e-Barat.

“Price increase of all these items in the last few years has resulted in curtailing their demand as people are now buying these items keeping in view their pocket and need,” he said, adding that it did not mean that people had stopped observing Shab-e-Barat with religious zeal but they were now more price-conscious.

“Many people are buying sweets from the market for distribution rather than preparing them at homes,” Farid said.

A dry fruits trader in Empress Market said that there had been no buying activity despite the fact that prices were almost same of last year. He added that price increase in other items had virtually curtailed the buying of dry fruits for Shab-e-Barat purpose.