Shafiq Kirana

If you go down Aurangpur Road near Gulmandi, you’ll find us right by Silver Heights. Shafiq Kirana has been part of this neighborhood for a long time. We sell groceries like pulses, spices, and cooking oil. It’s a busy spot, especially on market days when the streets are full of people. My father started this and now I’m the one mostly handling the customers. We don't have a computer system or anything, just a notebook where we keep track of things. People come in for their monthly supplies or just a small bag of salt. It gets very crowded inside the shop because we try to fit as many bags of grain as we can. The smell of spices is always strong here. Sometimes we have a bit of a chat with the regulars about the news or the weather while I weigh out their sugar. The traffic outside can be quite loud with all the rickshaws and bikes going toward Gulmandi. We stay open late most nights because that's when the office people come home and realize they need something for their kitchen. It is hard work lifting the heavy sacks of rice, but it’s what we do. We aren't looking to become a big supermarket, we just like being the local kirana store where people feel comfortable. It’s a simple business and we’ve been at it for years now. Sometimes we run out of things like certain lentils, but we always try to get more soon.