KARACHIITES are known for many things; banana eating is not one of them. The fact is that they have always loved the fruit. There was a time, from the 1960s until the early ‘70s, when getting them proved a bit heavy on their pocket (Rs6 or more for a dozen pieces). On April 5, 1971 it was reported that a decade ago bananas were “luxury” for Karachiites. They could get apples and grapes in abundance, not bananas – which were hard to find and were in the market at exorbitant prices. Now, the report added, the picture had changed. The supply of locally grown bananas had increased greatly. One could get them for as low a price as Rs1.50 per dozen. Citizens of Karachi (in 1971) consumed bananas worth Rs10,000 on a daily basis. To boot, the fruit was being exported as well.