Inflation-hit consumers welcome ‘cheap’ Iranian food products

With food inflation hitting up to 42 per cent in urban areas, a large number of consumers have opted for slightly cheap but ‘high quality’ Iranian ‘smuggled’ products, such as oil and cheese, readily available in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Several shops in twin cities have dedicated racks for Iranian goods, but the best place to bargain for these items, mainly packaged food, is the weekly bazaar at Peshawar Morr. Naimat Khan, a stall-holder at the weekly bazaar, used to sell dry fruits and spices but now he has one section in his shop displaying Iranian goods. He said that the profit margins were better and there was no complaint about the Iranian goods besides the shelf life was also longer. Though there are a number of products available in the market, the most sought-after Iranian products are cooking oil and butter - but it is hardly available for domestic consumers since commercial consumers get hold of them directly from the wholesale dealers.