PESHAWAR
\nInspite of high prices, the dates outlets on Friday here attracted faithful in substantial numbers for Iftar parties in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
\nAll the fruits markets of Peshawar including Gul Bhar, Firdus, Hasthnagri, Chamkani, Faqirabad, Boards, Tehkal, Cantonment, Pishtakhara, Kohat, Dalazak Roads and Qissa Khwani bazaar etc are flooded with different varieties of dates, attracting buyers despite it\u2019s high prices.
\nGreat rush of buyers was seen on dates outlets at these areas where the commodity was being sold like a hot cake.
\n\u201cDhaki Kajoor (date) is my prime choice for Iftar. I have bought four kilograms dates including two kilogram each for my married daughters as special Ramazan gift,\u201d said Fayaz Khan, a retired PST teacher and resident of Wapda Town Peshawar at Qissa Khwani bazaar while talking to APP.
\nOwing to its delicious taste and numerous health and nutrition benefits, date is an integral part of almost every \u201cDastarkhwan\u201d and a prime choice of the rozadars (fasting people) during Iftar parties.
\nThe business of imported and locally produced dates (Kajoor) have get upward boom during Ramzan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including seven merged tribal districts where people thronged to its shop after Zuhar prayer.
\nThis year, Muzafati date is being sold at Rs450-460 per kilogram compared to RsRs420-440 last year in Peshawar. Similarly, Iranian dates are being sold at Rs330-320 this year as against Rs280 per kg last year and its price is quite high this year that needed to be checked by the district administration in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
\nDhaki DI Khan\u2019s dates are also almost out of reach of poor people as it is being sold at Rs460-480 this year against Rs400-420 last year in Peshawar where high inflation and skyrocketing prices irked Rozadars.
\n\u201cDespite its high prices, Ajwa Kajoor are my favorite item and my iftar party cannot be complete without it,\u201d said Nasir Ali, a property dealer while talking to APP at Hashtnagri bazaar.
\n\u201cI prefers Ajwa dates due to its better taste and numerous nutrition and health benefits. However my family and friends liked Dhaki dates of DI Khan during Iftar as it help in restoration of blood sugar levels after fasting all day.\u201d
\nPunjgor dates are also attracting consumers in large number in local markets due to it\u2019s better quality and nutritious level. \u201cMy sister has requested four kilograms\u2019 dates but I purchased only two kilograms because of its high prices in Peshawar,\u201d said Nasir.
\nThe consumers said it was the responsibility of the district administration to control prices of daily use items including dates in open markets during Ramazanul Mubarak and urged DCs to activate his staff to control price hikes during Ramadan.
\nDr Malik Riaz Khan, head of the medical and children ward at Govt Rashid Hussain Shaheed Hospital told APP that dates were an important food item during Ramzan and recommended people to commence Iftar by eating at least five dates because it provides the body with necessary sugar and helping in the restoration of blood sugar level after fasting all the day.
\n\u201cOne of the most common reasons for headaches or dizziness during Ramzan is low blood sugar that is why eating dates is very beneficial at the start of Iftar to maintain sugar level and control hunger,\u201d he said.
\nHe said it is easy to digest so they don\u2019t exhaust the fasting person\u2019s stomach, adding research studies proved that having dates after fasting has got great benefits for nutrition and health of people.
\n\u201cDates decrease great hunger feeling of the fasting person and people don\u2019t rush into excessive food eating, which causes digestion disorders.\u201d
\nDr Malik Riaz said dates prepare a person\u2019s stomach to receive food after being inactive throughout the day by activating the release of digestive secretions and juices rich with sugary energy.
\nThe scientific studies showed that eating dates were extremely beneficial for pregnant women and lactating mothers as it contains certain stimulants, which assist in strengthening the muscles of the womb that can lead to an easier delivery and good health of newborns.
\nHe said that dates may be consumed even after Ramazan keeping in view of its seen and unseen numerous health benefits for people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Inspite of high prices, the dates outlets on Friday here attracted faithful in substantial numbers for Iftar parties in Khyber Pakthunkhwa. All the fruits markets of Peshawar including Gul Bhar, Firdus, Hasthnagri, Chamkani, Faqirabad, Boards, Tehkal, Cantonment, Pishtakhara, Kohat, Dalazak Roads and Qissa Khwani bazaar etc are flooded with different varieties of dates, attracting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-467049","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n