Dates Demand Peak in Twin Cities as the holy month of Ramadan begins. Markets in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are seeing heavy rush for different varieties of dates.
During Ramadan, Muslims prefer to break their fast with dates and water. Because of this religious practice, the sale of dates increases every year in both cities.
Traders say customers are buying both local and imported dates. Popular varieties include Aseel, Iranian, Ajwa and Mabroom. Prices depend on quality and origin.
Shopkeepers at Bank Road, Lal Kurti, Nirankari Bazaar and the Date Market say a wide range of dates is available this year. Iranian dates are among the top-selling varieties. Many buyers prefer them due to taste and price balance.
Mabroom and Ajwa are also in demand. However, Ajwa dates are expensive and not affordable for everyone.
According to market sources, prices start from around Rs400 per kilogram. High-quality varieties can go up to Rs5,600 per kilogram. Iranian dates are being sold at nearly Rs1,200 per kilogram.
Some traders claim that hoarding in Rawalpindi sometimes causes artificial price increases during Ramadan. Customers have urged authorities to monitor prices to avoid unfair profit.
With Dates Demand Peak in Twin Cities, markets are expected to remain busy throughout Ramadan.
