LAHORE - As the winter has approached, the business of warm clothes is on the rise in the provincial metropolis particularly after the recent wave of chilly breezes. People belonging to different walks of life are rushing towards the markets for buying warm items like socks, caps, sweaters, coats and jackets for fighting with the coldness of nature.
However, the prices are also soaring up with the increase in demand, even for the second hand clothes at Landa Bazaars of provincial metropolis.
Citizens belonging to lower stratum of the society, where compelled to buy used warm clothes, are also witnessing an awful sense of profiteering on the part of traders in these bazaars who have increased the prices of low quality stuff.
Women, youngsters, children and elders were seen negotiating with the shopkeepers in Landa Bazaars - all disappointed with the prices though. Many of them were purchasing used clothes for their families while the youngsters were trying jackets, sweaters and caps.
A buyer, Naveed, complained that the low-income class would not be able to make such costly bargain over used clothes. “Shopkeepers are charging too much for what they have got,” he added.
He further said that last year socks were available at a cost of Rs30 to Rs40 that has swelled up to almost double this year. “Low quality sweater is available at Rs100 while quality products in this category are available for Rs1000 to Rs2,000 per piece; jacket Rs500 to Rs5,000; coat Rs400 to Rs3,000; and a two piece suit is available in the range of Rs3,000 to Rs10,000.
A woman buyer, Nasreen Bibi, said that she was a regular costumer of second hand clothes and often visited Main Landa Bazaar and other markets located outside Mayo Hospital, Anarkali Bazaar, Chah Miran Market, Ichra, Samanabad and Empress Road. She said that the rates of such used garments were not as higher before the winter started. “The shopkeepers are charging extra amount and earning a lot which is absolutely unjustified,” she added.
However, the shopkeepers of these bazaars were of the view that they had purchased the stuff on high prices. They believed they were charging very nominal margin because they had bore the expenses of their shops for the whole year. “Winter is the only season in which we can earn enough to bear all the expenses till the next season,” they reaffirmed their stance.
Muhammad Ali, a salesman at a garments shop in Panorama Center, has also complained that the business of new warm clothes failed to gain momentum because low income group was reluctant to make expensive purchases. “Overall, the business of newly stitched readymade garments has faced a considerable decrease,” he added.
Conversely, the residents of provincial capital are expressing serious concerns over the increasing rates in Landa Bazaars, demanding the authorities of a check and balance over the trade.