Demand surges for sesame seed delicacies
Despite growing popularity, street-vendors struggle to operate amid increasing inflation
A vendor sells sweet items coated with sesame seeds on his pushcart in Rawalpindi. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Delicacies made from sesame seed and jaggery, such as gajak, have long been a seasonal favourite across much of the Indian subcontinent. In the last few decades however, the confection has also gained a unique popularity in the city of Rawalpindi, which has been drawing locals and tourists with a sweet-tooth to come enjoy the cantonment city’s favorite delicacies.
According to Mehboob Ahmed, an old-hand confectioner who’s been running a sweetshop in Rawalpindi’s Cantt Bazaar, the neighborhood’s close proximity to the train station has allowed it to be a frequent haunt for tourists from all over the country. The influence of which, has perhaps helped the Rawalpindi neighbourhood in developing a diverse street-food scene, similar to othe
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Punjab
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Mehboob-ahmed
Express
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