By
Asif Farooqi, IOL Pakistan Correspondent
ISLAMABAD,
November 3 (IslamOnline) - The holy month of Ramadan brings with it a
huge economic activity generated through the peculiar way this month
is received in this otherwise economically dull country.
The
economic activity starts with a large scale shopping spree which most
people undertake to receive not only the holy month but the festive
day following it, the Eid el Fitr.
It
is customary to wear new tailor-made clothes on the Eid day; markets
are thus flooded during the holy month of Ramadan with the people who
usually are looking for garment and cloth shops. As flux of people to
the tailors is too much towards the end of the month, shopping for Eid
starts with the first day of Ramadan.
Pakistani
people are known for their love for food. They like to eat, and more
so during Ramadan. Nobody who keeps fast breaks it without ten or more
dishes on the table.
In
usual days generally people eat their own meals even living in one
house. But when it is Ramadan Pakistani families make special
arrangements for bigger meals and Fast-breaking in a ceremonial way.
Everyone
who leaves home in the morning to earn livelihood tries to reach back
home by sunset when there is a grand party everyday. In Pakistan this
is the most celebrated time in Ramadan.
The
most common dish at the dining table at the time of Iftar is Pakora,
spicy fried vegetables in flour which is taken with spicy sauces.
Pakistani prefers spicy dishes at the time of Iftar.
Quantity
matters so every house consumes lots of eateries resulting excessive
budgetary spending at homes. Kitchen spending normally are two to
three times more than the normal days. The consumption of oil and
other eatables is even more. Production rises and with it the economic
cycle is accelerated and the poor class is benefited the most.
In
the afternoon, temporary stall for eatable items are crowded. Vendors
work overtime to meet the demand. A lot of new temporary job
opportunities are created and a vendor earns enough money in this one
month, equaling to his whole year’s earnings.
At
the government level, it is even more ceremonial to celebrate Ramadan.
The ministry of Finance issues special budgetary allocations to every
ministry and government department to arrange Iftar parties. These
grand parties continue throughout the month and millions of rupees are
fixed for these special parties.
The
most celebrated grand party is held by the President of the country
who invites hundreds of top level politicians, bureaucrats, diplomats
and others to his official residence.
Parliament
house also receives its own share of Iftar fund. Everyday there is a
grand party in the Parliament when it is in session. Services chiefs,
judges and other categories of government servants have their own
parties going on round the month.
This
took place despite the fact that in view of the heavy budgetary
spending for these Iftar parties, former Prime Minister had reduced
the budgetary allocations for these parties to almost half. In many
government departments, Iftar on government expense was banned. But
still the government is spending billions of rupees for this account.
Ramadan
is also a highly profit-making season for hoarders. With the Ramadan
month approaching, the government has to do a lot of effort to keep
the prices of eatables stable.
The
hoarders try to short the supply of vegetables and other eatables so
that the prices can go up. The government counters this with opening
of special Ramadan Bazaars and announces crackdown on these
anti-social elements. This hide-and-seek goes on throughout the month,
resulting in slight price-hiking.
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