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A slice of subcontinent in speciality stores

SHARJAH - It's a Tuesday and the womenfolk are flocking these special stores in Rolla, Sharjah. Tuesdays and Thursdays see crowds at these "speciality stores" because these are the days when fresh fruits and vegetables are flown in direct from Pakistan.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Shoaib Malik, the owner of one such store, said: "We have been running such stores in Abu Dhabi for the past 15 years and it is only recently that we opened up a shop in Sharjah. And we have been successful here because people from Sharjah, Ajman, Dubai as well as other emirates crave for fruits, vegetables and other miscellaneous items from their home country."

One can find home-made rusks, oils, vinegar, Urdu novels and books, sweetmeats made from desi (local) ghee, pickles, syrups, jams, jellies, lentils, biscuits and even surma daani (kohl) at these shops.

"It's a simple case of psychology," said Mr Malik. "Many expatriates here enjoy the variety of fruits, vegetables as well as other products available in the market, but somewhere, somehow there is still a yearning to enjoy the same taste that they have been used to since childhood," he said, adding: "That's the reason why we see such a crowd."

The fruits and vegetables are flown in by air from Pakistan to Dubai on Tuesday and Thursday and checked by the Dubai Municipality at the airport and only then brought to these shops in Sharjah.

The other items are brought if the customer demands for them. Afsheen Hussain, a shopper at the store, said that she loves the taste of the Pakistani vegetables because it reminds her of home.

"I love to shop here because I know I will get the products that I am used to. The same vegetables and spices that I used in Pakistan are available here now," she said, adding that my children love the taste of Pakistani biscuits, while mangoes are their favourite.

The rates for the perishable items keep fluctuating, says Mr Malik.

"Nowadays mangoes are available for Dh5-6 per kilo (rates for mangoes brought by air). Myriad vegetables are available for Dh2-8 per kilo such as LadyFinger is available for Dh5 per kg."

During Ramadhan, these stores also stock special syrups like Rooh Afza, Quice etc that are popular cold drinks in Pakistan during the hot weather. For Eid, a variety of glass bangles and henna are also available.

The owner of another similar store, Al Hajjaj Grocery in Rolla, Sharjah claims that it was the first of its kind to open in Sharjah two years ago. Mirza Ejaz said that he is running a similar store in Abu Dhabi for the past 7-8 years.

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