Their ability to buy basic necessities and their inability to pay for food during the holy month are both a result of the high prices of these commodities.
Contrary to other parts of the world, Pakistan is experiencing an increase in commodity prices during Ramadan, adding to the suffering of an already impoverished population.
While wholesalers attribute the high prices to a lack of supply, retailers struggle to find fruits and vegetables at fair prices.
Low- and middle-income families now find it difficult to cover their kitchen expenses during Ramadan due to inflation. Even traditional Ramadan foods like pakoras, which are incomplete without chickpea flour (besan), have significantly increased in price.
Besan now costs between Rs250 and Rs300 per kilo, up from Rs150 to Rs200 per kilo last year. Currently, ready-made pakoras cost Rs400 per kilo.
Other necessities have also become out of reach, such as bananas, which have increased from Rs200 per dozen to Rs500 per dozen, and Iranian dates, which are now priced at Rs600 per kilo.
Chicken meat, which has seen significant price hikes in the past few months, is now trading at Rs 750-800 per kilo, compared to its previous rate of Rs650 per kilo, and is expected to surpass beef prices soon.
Loose flour is currently being sold for Rs160 per kilo despite being already scarce and the only affordable option for many households. Budgets for households are also being strained by the high price of necessities like onions, which are now sold for between Rs120 and Rs200 per kilo, up from Rs40 to Rs80 during the previous Ramadan.
In addition, the cost of premium cooking oil has increased from last year’s rate of Rs400 per litre to approximately Rs650 per litre.
Additionally, the price of yogurt has increased from Rs240 per kilogramme to Rs 280-300 per kilogramme, while the price of loose milk has increased from Rs150 to Rs210 per litre.
Even basic necessities like basmati rice have increased in price significantly, going from Rs250 per kilo to Rs360 per kilo.
The difficulties faced by Pakistanis during Ramadan are made worse by the high prices of necessities and the rising cost of gas and electricity.
In Pakistan, low- and middle-income families are suffering greatly due to the high cost of necessities during Ramadan, making it difficult for them to meet their daily expenses and take advantage of the blessings of this holy month.
