LAHORE, Nov 7: Make-shift eateries have cropped up across the provincial capital with the advent of Ramazan.

Even the shops generally dealing in baked items and confectioneries have set up counters outside their premises to sell Iftari items.

Hotels have come up with special Iftar packages in a bid to offset the effects of day-long closure.

With the increased demand for edibles, the wholesale prices of items like gram flour, red chilies and spices have gone up.

Meanwhile, the acting president of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Pervaiz Anwar Sheikh, has urged upon traders to keep the prices of essential commodities reasonable.

In a press statement issued here on Thursday, he said the government should encourage small businessmen to put up stalls of fruit, vegetables and other consumer items in large numbers to enable the people to get these commodities at lower rates during Ramazan.

He appealed to the people to refrain from excessive consumption and extravagance to ensure an uninterrupted supply of all the necessary items.— APP