Right before Eid: Demands for ready-made garments touch the skies

Tailors, on the other hand, said their businesses were not affected

PESHAWAR: A spike in the sale of ready-made garments has been witnessed in the city before Eidul Fitr. Customers prefer ready-made garments over unstitched clothes due to their reasonable prices and durability. Ready-made clothes also save time as people do not have to venture out in the scorching heat in Ramazan to have them stitched.

With only few days left for Eidul Fitr, hundreds and thousands of commuters thronged to city’s bustling markets for shopping. In this respect, some of the most visited markets included Saddar Bazaar, Meena Bazaar, Shaheen Bazaar, City Tower, and other outfits on University Road. These markets are particularly famous for the ready-made garments.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Zeeshan Jamshaid said he came all the way from Lower Dir to purchase ready-made kurtas for Eid.

“Not a single tailor was ready to stitch my clothes in my village as I just arrived home from Saudi Arabia a week ago,” he said. “I can buy a ready-made kurta for Rs1,800 whereas unstitched clothes cost as much as Rs2,500.”

Tailors are charging as much as Rs900 for one kurta. On the other hand, prices for men’s kurtas in Peshawar’s main markets range from Rs1,800 to Rs5,000.

Besides adults’ wears, families also prefer to purchase ready-made garments for their children. But they complaint the prices for children’s ready-made garments were significantly higher than the unstitched clothes.

However, the availability of Chinese garments in the markets has addressed their grievances.

Sehrish Yousafzai, who is a working woman in Peshawar, told The Express Tribune the prices of children’s garments from ranged from between Rs400 to Rs600 which is quite reasonable.

Various popular outlets of ready-made garments have opened up their franchises in the city’s main markets for customers’ convenience. They are offering varieties of men’s and women’s garments on the occasion of Eid.

The sale of ready-made garments has been increasing since 15 days prior to the start of Ramazan. This is because tailors stop booking further orders to stitch the cloths due to excessive workload. Traders said the sale of ready-made garments increases by 50% in last two
weeks of Ramazan.

Many garment outlets have displayed various ready-made clothes on sale ahead of Eid in order to sell out stocks. Severe rush of customers was witnessed on shops with such discounts.

On the other hand, the tailors are satisfied with their businesses and earnings. They said their work never gets affected due to the increase in the sales of ready-made garments.

Ahmad Ali, a tailor in Saddar Bazaar, told The Express Tribune he stopped booking for Eid even before the start of Ramazan as he had already committed to stitch clothes for a large number of customers.

Traffic woes

Traffic police have banned entry of rickshaws and taxies from entering the premises of major markets, including Saddar Bazaar, Gura Bazaar, Shaheen Bazaar, Meena Bazaar, and Qissa Khwani Bazaar. This has been done to maintain smooth flow of traffic.

No vehicle is allowed to enter the markets in Saddar Bazaar and Arbab Road. According a traffic police official, the decision may have to be withdrawn due to businessmen’s reservations.

Over 1,279 police personnel have been deployed to avoid any untoward situation during Eid shopping.  Furthermore, 25 strike units have also been set up across the district, and three desks were also established in Saddar Bazaar.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Markaz-e-Tanzeem Tajeran Rabta Committee President Mujeebur Rehman said the decision to ban entry of vehicles into the city’s bustling markets was tantamount to playing with the businesses of traders on the eve of Eid. He was, however, satisfied with the performance of
security officials.

He said these last two to three days prior to Eid were crucial for commercial purposes as thousands of customers throng to the markets on their vehicles during these days.

“The department concerned should withdraw the decision to ban entry of vehicles into infamous markets on the night before Eid or else traders will have to
organise protests.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2016.