Bamboo prices shoot up

Bamboo prices have shot through the roof in the Islamabad-Rawalpindi twin city area as demand for straight bamboo has outstripped supply. Alibhae Baanswaala, a small time timber merchant who mostly sells tooth picks in Raja Bazar, talked about the situation to our business correspondent Alibhae Akhbarnawees.

 Baanswala, explained that administrations of Lal Masjid and associated Jamia Hafsa have been buying bamboo in large quantities recently. The opinion of most in the market is that the bamboo is being purchased to rebuild the madrassas and masjids that were demolished by the CDA after being found illegally constructed. Certain timber merchants who have recently become born again tablighi types with long beards have been especially active in procuring the bamboo and getting it all cut into sixfoot long poles. And therein lies the problem as Baanswala explained. Six feet is not long enough to be useful in construction. Still, Aamaal ka daromidar niyat par hai.

Initial reports from NWFP, Lahore and as far south as Karachi are all indicating that those markets are following the pattern of Islamabad. Bamboo is the new gold. It is good thing then that it grows fast.

In a related investigation, Alibhae Akhbarnawees is following up on a tip that a certain Maulana and a famous Qazi were very active in the commodities market, heavily buying bamboo futures until three months ago.