Every year, consumers suffer a price increase on food items throughout the month of Ramadan, especially on items that are frequently consumed at homes, restaurants, cafés, and caterers during this time.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported that the food inflation rate in February increased to 47% in rural regions and to 41.9 % in urban areas when compared year over year.
The people of Pakistan, who have been facing the worst inflation of many decades, have been under radar of another wave of inflation in the month of Ramadan. The prices of many things have already spiked.
The Manager of a renowned Food Centre said, “People are unable to substitute any ingredients for tomatoes, onions, and cooking oil because doing so would alter the flavor of their food.”
Also, he highlighted his worries about the historically high rate of inflation, saying that prices would rise during Ramadan as they always do but that the management would still be responsible for paying for it all. Prices would drop once Ramadan was done, he continued.
Another seasoned expert with seven years of experience in the culinary arts, Babar Iftikhar suggested that in some recipes, yogurt might be used in place of tomatoes. Also, he advised freezing tomato paste in cubes, each cube being equal to one tablespoon, to preserve tomatoes.
There is no real equivalent for this crucial ingredient, according to Iftikhar, who is currently the campus manager at Skillston when asked about potential substitutions.
He advised that although fried onions were readily accessible in the market and might be used as a substitute if they were more affordable than fresh onions.
