There show some interesting trends in consumption in Pakistan during Ramzan.
The consumption of wheat has fallen to nearly 110,000 tonnes during Ramazan in Karachi compared to the monthly average of 150,000 tonnes in summer.
Consumption in winter stands normally higher as 180,000 tonnes of wheat are ground every month to make flour (atta). Sindh’s overall consumption of wheat reaches 360,000 tonnes in winter and 300,000 tonnes in summer.
The per-person consumption of flour in Pakistan is 124 kilograms a year
However, Pakistanis are eating costly flour due to higher support price of wheat at Rs1,350 per 40kg, Wheat prices in Pakistan are almost double at $350 a tonne compared to global prices of $160-180 a tonne.
However, despite lower prices on the world market, Pakistan’s wheat imports remained nil during July-April 2016-17, as they were a year earlier. The government has imposed 60 per cent import duty and 5pc income tax to discourage imports and benefit growers.
Unlike wheat, the consumption of chickpeas (chana) went up to nearly 200,000 tonnes during Shaban and Ramazan from 66,000 tonnes a month. Chickpeas are used for making besan, or gram flour.
Wholesale price of grams at Rs80 per kg, the amount spent on the Shaban and Ramazan consumption comes to around Rs16 billion compared to normal monthly consumption of Rs5.28bn.
Gram is the largest Rabi pulse crop, accounting for 76pc of total production of pulses in the country. Its production increased 25.5pc year-on-year to 359,000 tonnes during 2016-17. However, keeping in view the consumption of grams at around 750,000 tonnes, a considerable amount of the commodity is being imported.
The consumption of Kabuli chana (white gram) swelled to nearly 50,000 tonnes during Shaban and Ramazan from 15,000 tonnes during normal months. Taking the price of Kabuli chana at Rs150 per kg, the overall sales come to around Rs7.5bn.
The monthly consumption of sugar, which normally stands at 400,000 tonnes, surged to 1.2 million tonnes Shaban and Ramazan as it is heavily used in making juices and squashes. Based on Rs53 per kg wholesale price, its sales in Ramazan and Shaban come to Rs63.6bn as compared to Rs21bn in normal months.
Demand for rice usually goes up by 10-20pc in the 15 days leading to Eidul Fitr due to a rise in iftar parties.
Consumption of milk and yogurt surged by at least 50pc during Ramazan than normal days.