Pakistan: Dates the healthy option for breaking fast
Khajoor Bazaar in Pakistan has dates from many destinations.
"There is the 'Basrawala' variety from Iraq available at Rs95 per kilogram. In wholesale, it is Rs3,800 for 40kg. The Iranian variety is more expensive — Rs5,500 for 40kg. And the Turbat dates are the cheapest at Rs1,600 for 40kg," said Haji Pir Mohammad of Panjgoor Dates House in Khajoor Bazaar.
He said that the local dates were not yet ripe enough for marketing, therefore last year's stock is still being sold.
Kashif, another date wholesaler at the market, said that by the time the local dates become ripe enough to see there would be no call for them.
"Right now the Iranian dates are the biggest sellers. We are selling them at Rs180 per kg. But when the local Sukkur dates will come to the market, we would hardly have any buyers for them as people mostly buy dates to last them a month in the beginning of Ramadan only," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Juveria Siddiqui of the School of Public Health of the Dow University of Health Science points out that having dates at Iftar is not just a tradition as dates carry several health and nutritional benefits.
"Breaking one’s fast with dates provides instant energy as the ripe fruit is a rich source of glucose and fructose," says the doctor.
Giving more nutritional facts on dates, she adds: "Date fruit is a good source of vitamin and essential minerals. There are almost six vitamins found in good quantities in dates, making the fruit more of multivitamin supplement. Then they are also good sources of potassium, at least 25 per cent more than a banana."
Source: dawn.com
