RAMADAN GROCERY SHOPPING DURING PANDEMIC

 It is extremely important to practice safety majors during these tough times. People are having panic alarms about keeping products in stock. With the rising cases of covid-19, people are grabbing access to necessary products vital for survival. This is resulting in products getting out of stock. However, food production companies in Pakistan are still into a function for the production of these necessary products. Therefore, many supermarkets are having these products in stock all the time.

However, in the holy month of Ramadan people tends to practice pre-stocking of products. People tend to make a list of all items that would be sufficient enough to last for a whole month. With the beginning of the blessed month, people cannot gather together for Taraweeh prayers at mosques. Therefore, they offer prayers at home. Also, new timings for store opening has been announced by the government. Several supermarkets are open from iftaar timing till midnight and some have kept it till 10 pm at night. People who have products out of stock can visit the supermarket right after iftaar. The supermarket team has made sure of proper preventive measures to be practiced by the customers. The formation of a proper customer line outside the grocery store has been made sure. Each person is advised to keep a distance of at least 2 meters from each other. People are allowed to enter the store in a small proportion. 10 to 15 people enter the grocery store and practice proper distance from each other while shopping. Proper teams outside the store keep a check on preventive measures practiced by customers. For instance, they do not allow people without masks and gloves, they do not allow the entrance of children and elders. Carts are thoroughly cleaned and customers are advised to use hand sanitizers every 20 minutes. They should avoid touching their face, especially when in crowded supermarket areas. People are advised to keep products in stock in order to avoid getting exposed to crowded places during the pandemic. Apart from supermarkets, several online grocery stores are offering the delivery of complete necessary items at the doorstep. During a pandemic, online grocery stores have earned leads in revenue and sales. People in Ramadan prefer to stay at home and practice prayers in isolation. With the facility offered by online grocery shopping stores of delivering products at doorstep, people prefer to switch towards online products. Furthermore, with the start of Ramadan, these websites offer substantial discounts and offer on several items. For instance, several websites offer discount prices on refreshing concentrated syrups, chicken, grocery items, and even clothing accessories.

Ramadan is definitely incomplete without late-night shopping shenanigans. However, due to covid-19, this Ramadan, shopping of accessories is totally restricted. Accessory stores and markets are closed completely with lockdown dates extended till May. People are advised to practice complete isolation, embracing the holy month of Ramadan with the practice of prayers. People are advised to practice prayers in isolation rather than praying it together with people coming from outside. On the contrary, people are funded by the government and NGOs because most of them own shops and businesses that are closed due to complete lockdown. Their source of income has come to a complete halt.

With the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan, online and traditional stores both are playing part in keeping products in stock for customers to purchase at the respective timings scheduled by the government. They are stressing the importance of social distance during these crucial times with the complete practice of preventive measures. All we can practice in the holy month of blessings is to pray in isolation and shop conveniently.