Soaring food prices dampen traditional niyaz preparations in Hyderabad
Alongside these commemorations, the preparation and distribution of nazr and niyaz have also reached their peak. However, a steep rise in the prices of essential food items, particularly spices, meat, and firewood, has forced many community members to turn to catering services instead of preparing meals at home. Organisers of large-scale niyaz say runaway prices have made it financially unviable to cook at home. As a result, they are placing orders at local cooking centres for ready-to-serve meals to distribute among mourners.
Traditionally, the first 10 days of Muharram witness the highest volume of niyaz distribution in Hyderabad, with a variety of food items, including biryani, haleem, sweets, etc, served across the city. This year, however, people are feeling the pinch. The prices of staple dishes have seen a sharp increase. The cost of a 10kg deg of chicken biryani has jumped from Rs10,000-12,000 to Rs15,000-16,000, while a beef biryani deg of the same quantity now costs between Rs20,000 and Rs22,000 — a significant rise from last year's Rs15,000-16,000.
Haleem has also become more expensive. A 100kg haleem deg that used to cost around Rs17,000 is now being sold at Rs22,000 to Rs25,000 by catering services. Meanwhile, some have shifted to distributing simpler food items such as dal-roti, halwas, and channa.
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Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Soaring food prices dampen traditional niyaz preparations in Hyderabad
With the advent of the holy month of Muharram, Azadari (mourning) rituals in the second biggest urban centre of Sindh are in full swing, as processions of zuljinah, alam, tazia and Jhola mark the city's religious landscape. Alongside these commemorations, the preparation and distribution of nazr and niyaz have also reached their peak. However, a steep rise in the prices of essential food items, particularly spices, meat, and firewood, has forced many community members to turn to catering services instead of preparing meals at home. Organisers of large-scale niyaz say runaway prices have made it financially unviable to cook at home. As a result, they are placing orders at local cooking centres for ready-to-serve meals to distribute among mourners. Traditionally, the first 10 days of Muharram witness the highest volume of niyaz distribution in Hyderabad, with a variety of food items, including biryani, haleem, sweets, etc, served across the city. This year, however, people are feeling the pinch. The prices of staple dishes have seen a sharp increase. The cost of a 10kg deg of chicken biryani has jumped from Rs10,000-12,000 to Rs15,000-16,000, while a beef biryani deg of the same quantity now costs between Rs20,000 and Rs22,000 — a significant rise from last year's Rs15,000-16,000. Haleem has also become more expensive. A 100kg haleem deg that used to cost around Rs17,000 is now being sold at Rs22,000 to Rs25,000 by catering services. Meanwhile, some have shifted to distributing simpler food items such as dal-roti, halwas, and channa.
Business Recorder
11 hours ago
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9th, 10th Muharram-ul-Haram: CEO FESCO for ensuring uninterrupted power supply
FAISALABAD: On the special directives of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) Engr Muhammad Aamer, FESCO officers and staff are working in the field to ensure uninterrupted power supply on the 9th and 10th of Muharram-ul-Haram. In all six operation circles of the FESCO region, vigilant FESCO staff is present with vehicles equipped with all necessary equipment along with the condolence processions so that in case of any problem or power outage, power can be restored immediately. At complaints center FESCO staff is working round the clock and complaints received from consumers are being attended immediately so that mourners do not face any problems in this hot weather. CEO FESCO Engr Muhammad Aamer is directly monitoring all operations from the central control center established at FESCO headquarters, while senior officers are also present on emergency duties and monitoring the uninterrupted supply of electricity. No maintenance work is being carried out anywhere on the 9th and 10th of Muharram so that mourners do not face any difficulties during this time and law and order operations are not disrupted. Transformer trolleys have also been provided to deal with any emergency situation so that these trolleys can be used in the event of a sudden power outage/emergency. Engr Muhammad Aamer has appealed to electricity consumers to avoid using iron rods with condolence processions so that they do not accidentally hit electricity cables and cause an accident, and not to touch FESCO installations 'electricity poles or stay wires' during the procession. In addition, in case of power outage, First Circle consumers can register their complaints on GM Technical Mian Muhammad Rafiq's mobile number 0370-1800085, landline number 041-9220514, 041-9220433, Second Circle consumers on Director Procurement Rana Muhammad Afzal's mobile number 0370-1800072, landline number 041-9330060, Jhang Circle consumers on GM (C&CS) Mubasher Hayat Rao's mobile number 0370-1800060, landline number 047-9200220, Sargodha Circle on Chief Engineer TS Shahbaz Mahmood's mobile number 0370-1800059. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
a day ago
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Major cities under strict security as Muharram 9 processions continue
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