PESHAWAR
Known as land of hospitality, Khyber Pakthunkhwa is a unique province where traditional sweets become a prominent food item in iftar parties during the holy month of Ramzanul Mubarak.
Besides other food items, the sohan halwa of DI Khan, Gajar ‘halwa’ of Bannu, Mardani Pera of Mardan and Rajjar Methai of Charsadda district make Iftar dinners more delectable in Khyber Pakthunkhwa where these mouth-watering commodities were being sold like a hot cake.
There are several varieties of sohan halwa brought from different districts including Multan to Peshawar as special Iftar items, however, the Dera Ismail Khan’s variety attracts a substantial number of buyers due to its unique flavor, taste and being cost-efficient.
Ali Khan alias Pehlawan, who run a famous sweet shop at Qissa Khawani Peshawar told APP that he had brought 100kg sohan halwa stock from DI Khan as a special Iftar item and all of it were sold out by 12th Ramzanul Mubarak.
“My son had visited DI Khan last night to bring additional 100KG sohan halwa stock for the remaining days of Ramazan to fulfill people’s pressing demands for iftar and Eid,” he said. The ingredients required for the special halwa include milk, khoya, soni, fine flour, sugar and ghee besides dry fruits, which make it more delicious and tasty.
He said traders from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Punjab have placed orders ahead of Eidul Fitr and extra labour was hired to meet their pressing demands for sweets and confectionaries.
Like other food items, he said the prices of DI Khan and Multani sohan halwa were also increased in local market due to soaring price hike and one KG was available on ranges of Rs400 to Rs700 per KG in Peshawar, which was economical than Multani sohan hallwa that was being sold at Rs500 to Rs800 per KG.
“My entire family likes DI Khan sohan halwa due to its delectable taste and energy perspective,’” said Riaz Khan, a private school teacher at Qissa Khwani bazaar. “I purchased four KG sohan hallwa including two kg for my married daughter as a special Iftar gift,” he said.
Like sohan halwa, the Rajjar Methai made of pure “Gur” of Charsadda district also attracts a large number of buyers for Iftar parties and upcoming Eid due to its appetizing taste and affordable prices.
Located about one kilometer north of Charsadda city, Rajjar bazaar has now turned into a sweets market where a great rush of buyers are being witnessed in all bakary shops ahead of Iftar.
The traditional sweet was brought in substantial quantities in Peshawar, Charsadda, Swabi, Nowshera and Mardan districts where Rajjar sweets were being sold like hot cake.
Yaqoob Khan, an owner of Razzar sweet told APP on Thursday that this hard earned business was started by his grandfather Israruddin alias Chacha Halwai in 1930 and he belonged to the third generation running it today to support his family.
The delicious quality of the sweet differentiates it from the rest of confectioneries due to its better taste, chemically free and affordable price. The people served it to relatives and guests as a special Iftar item besides on joys occasions of Eid, weddings, engagements and children birthday parties strengthening the bond of love and friendship.
“Personally I like Rajjar sweet due its palatable taste and cost-efficient,” said Khayam Khan, a government employee, adding people of all social status can afford it. “I purchased four KG Rajar sweets at Rs 350 per kilogram for my family members and friends as a special Iftar gift,” he added.
Haji Yaqoob said the recipe for the popular sweet changed over the years and only butter, flour and gur were used in its preparation by my father as sugar was not available in those ancient days in Charsadda.
He said presently it was being prepared with various ingredients including desi ghee, milk, butter, gur and white flour enhances its taste and delectability. The popular sweet also attracted traders from Afghanistan and Central Asian Republic while marching to the subcontinent via Charsadda and Peshawar through GT Road.
The local people also send the sweets as a gift to their friends and relatives, living in other parts of the country as well as abroad. It is also being exported to Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and several Middle East countries besides send to USA, UK and other western countries as a special gift for friends and relatives.
Similarly, mardani pera sweet prepared of milk and butter beside other ingredients, also attract buyers. “Mardani sweet is my first choice for Iftar parties and Meeti Eid. I purchased 10 kilograms of sweets including five KG each for my married sisters, maternal uncles and relatives as special Iftar and Eid gifts,” Professor Dr Naeem Khan of Swabi University told APP.
He said Pakistan can earn valuable foreign exchange by exporting the traditional confectionery to international markets. Focus should be made on its marketing by involving foreign missions to explore new avenues for these popular products besides social and digital media to be used for its proper projection overseas.
The manufacturers and shopkeepers of these traditional sweets said that they had suffered great financial losses due to the corona pandemic and last year devastative flood and urged the government to financially support the affectees besides providing interest free loans to them enabling the affected shopkeepers and manufacturers to strengthen their business.
