KARACHI, Jan 7: The surging prices of consumer items have made observing certain rituals of Muharram, particularly offering foods and soft drinks, costlier than they were last year.

A random market survey reveals that the expenditure on preparing seven kilograms of haleem (comprising meat, wheat, pulses, rice, spices, etc) now comes to Rs2,365 as compared to Rs1,580. There has been some relief in the prices of ghee and cooking oil and rice after a decline in their prices, but the prices of red meat, pulses and wheat have risen sharply.

Veal meat (without bones) is now priced at Rs220-240 per kg depending on the area as compared to Rs180-200 per kg last year. Wheat now sells at Rs44 per kg as compared to Rs20 per kg last year. Jaao (barley) rate is Rs55 per kg as compared to Rs30 last year. Gram pulse, moong, masoor and mash pulses are now Rs65, Rs60, Rs130 and Rs80 per kg as compared to last year’s Rs62, Rs48, Rs73 and Rs48 per kg, respectively. Hot spice rate (50 grams) is Rs25 as compared to Rs18 last year.

The price of various varieties of unleavened bread (roti), which is distributed as niaz during Muharram, has increased substantially. For example, a good quality nan now sells at Rs7 as compared to Rs4 of last year’s. Sheermal and taftan are now priced at Rs18 per piece each as compared to Rs14 last year. kulcha is available at Rs16 apiece as compared to last year’s Rs12.

The price of maida (super fine flour) is now Rs31.50 per kg as compared to Rs22-23 per kg of last year’s, while flour price is Rs32-34 per kg as compared to last year’s Rs21-22 per kg. Similarly sugar now sells at Rs36-38 per kg as against Rs25 per kg of last year. The price of a 16kg ghee tin is now Rs1,620 as compared to Rs1,500 of last year.

The sale of various varieties of roti has declined by 40-50 per cent this Muharram, as a baker said: “Many people now prefer distributing bakery items such as buns, shami kabab etc instead of sheermal and taftan.”

Chicken dealers at Water Pump, F.B. Area, also complained about a decline in the sale this year by at least 40-50 per cent owing to the high prices. However, the general secretary of the Sindh Poultry Wholesalers and Retailers association, Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui, said that in view of the demand, as many as 400,000-450,000 chickens were slaughtered on the ninth of Muharram as against the usual daily slaughter of 300,000-350,000 birds. Poultry meat is now available at Rs180-200 per kg as compared to Rs125-130 per kg at the same time of last year.

The price of fresh milk now hovers between Rs40 and Rs42 per litre as compared to Rs32 and Rs34 per litre last year, making a big difference in the cost of preparing sherbet which is offered at roadsides or distributed to neighbours. Tetra milk was available at Rs44 a litre last year as compared to the current rate of Rs55. Nido’s one kg pack now sells at Rs340 as compared to last year’s Rs310.