While customers in Pakistan complain of high prices during Ramadan, a grocery store owned by a Sikh family stands apart during the holy month.
In Ramadan, Gurmeet Singh’s grocery store located at the main Jamrud Bazaar of district Khyber provides special discounts to Muslim customers. Gurmeet’s father Nirinjin Singh set a tradition to subsidize the prices of daily commodities that have been in high demand during Ramadan.
Gurmeet’s grocery store sells rice, flour, cereals, ghee, and beverages. Moreover, it also provides a 30 percent discount to Muslims. His family has been running the grocery business for almost four decades now. He completed this matriculation from Peshawar’s famous Edwardes College before indulging in the family business.
Gurmeet maintaining his family tradition
Gurmeet said that his grandfather established this store over four decades ago. He had to give up his education and abandon his schooling to help his father with his business. Ever since joining the family business, Gurmeet is also keeping the tradition of love and compassion that his elders have set alive.
Source: Siasat.pk
Speaking to a media outlet, Gurmeet said this gesture is meant to show solidarity with Muslim brothers during the month of Ramadan. He also added the most underprivileged Muslims cannot afford to pay for the hefty prices of the food items during Ramadan. This relief will help to ease their lives.
He added, “We feel great spiritual satisfaction in extending this humble relief to our Muslim brothers because it boosts our ties and enhances interfaith harmony. I would advise my Muslim brothers to avoid hoarding and provide relief to their brothers in the month of Ramadan.”
According to Gurmeet, only because of the people who pray for them, they earn a high profit in the month of Ramadan compared to other grocery stores.
Other humanitarian services of Sikhs globally
It is not in only Pakistan that the Sikh community has helped people of other religions or cultures. The Sikh community has been a shining example of helping across the world in times of crisis. In March 2020, New York’s Sikh Center prepared 30,000 home-cooked free meals in the US for people in self-isolation during COVID-19.
New York’s mayor office approached the Sikh community for making food packages. These packages were handed out to various distributing agencies within that area. The community maintained strict food hygiene practices while preparing the food for the people.
Source: Tribune.pk
Almost 99% of the individuals consuming the meals are American citizens. The rest of the consumers are Indians that are coming from overseas or students in self-isolation for 14 days.
What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments section below!
