Tailors of twin cities sew up their orders
Customers throng markets ahead of Eidul Fitr
A boy outside a tailor shop during a power cut in Karachi. PHOTO: REUTERS
RAWALPINDI:
With just a few weeks until Eidul Fitr, the rush of shoppers and hustle bustle in markets has increased. However, the recent wave of inflation has had some impact.
But the most sought after people this Ramazan are tailors who are already full of orders. Many tailors in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have even placed signboards outside their stores inscribed with the dreaded words: “booking closed”, signifying they will be taking any further others for clothes to deliver before Eidul Fitr.
This is especially true of those tailors who have to rush to their hometowns to celebrate Eid with their loved ones.
Tailors can be seen toiling away from early in the morning to late at night at their stores, trying to fulfil orders. The smaller stores are cramped and some have judiciously made use of space by dividing stores vertically and horizontally to fit in as many tailors as possible.
They are usually fitted with small fans to offer some respite in the heat while the more well-to-do tailors have a bit more space and are equipped with air conditioners.
Those who are still taking orders, they are charging exorbitant amounts of money to deliver the product on time.
The cost of stitching a simple dress has shot up by Rs300-Rs400 apiece. The district administration seems helpless in front of the skilled workers despite complaints from customers, particularly women.
On the other hand, a number of citizens have decided to turn to buying readymade apparels given that they now cost as much or in some cases even less than tailored dresses.
Retailers in the markets are satisfied with the public rush at their stores, noting that it was a high time for them to do good business.
Markets in different parts of twin cities are full of customers which gain further intensity after sundown on the hot days.
Shops selling garments, shoes, jewellery and other accessories can be swamped with women who appear busy trying to match their clothes with accessories or vice versa.
Storekeepers, though, have hiked prices of almost every item from makeup, to jewellery, to making clothes such as fabric sellers, button and other production material retailers, cloth dyers.
As a result, the cumulative cost of making dresses has gone up.
Consumer protection council
Even as retailers hike prices for goods, the Rawalpindi District Consumer Protection Council (DCPC) has started to take action against profiteers and those selling substandard goods.
The DCPC has issued a circular in all the main markets of Rawalpindi district, warning vendors to display the official price lists of essential items and to sell quality goods.
The DCPC has further directed to provide a receipt for each purchase, display ingredients and while the expiry dates should be clearly marked on all items sold.
DCPC Assistant Director Idrees Randhawa has said that strict action will be taken against the violators while they would be presented before the Assistant Commissioner (AC) where heavy fines of up to Rs100,000, could be imposed on them.
Highlighting the benefit of issuing a receipt to a customer, Randhawa explained that a consumer can exchange an item through the council if it is found to become stale before its expiry date.
Moreover, claims that the items were made from substandard material can also be validated.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2019.
With just a few weeks until Eidul Fitr, the rush of shoppers and hustle bustle in markets has increased. However, the recent wave of inflation has had some impact.
But the most sought after people this Ramazan are tailors who are already full of orders. Many tailors in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have even placed signboards outside their stores inscribed with the dreaded words: “booking closed”, signifying they will be taking any further others for clothes to deliver before Eidul Fitr.
This is especially true of those tailors who have to rush to their hometowns to celebrate Eid with their loved ones.
Tailors can be seen toiling away from early in the morning to late at night at their stores, trying to fulfil orders. The smaller stores are cramped and some have judiciously made use of space by dividing stores vertically and horizontally to fit in as many tailors as possible.
They are usually fitted with small fans to offer some respite in the heat while the more well-to-do tailors have a bit more space and are equipped with air conditioners.
Those who are still taking orders, they are charging exorbitant amounts of money to deliver the product on time.
The cost of stitching a simple dress has shot up by Rs300-Rs400 apiece. The district administration seems helpless in front of the skilled workers despite complaints from customers, particularly women.
On the other hand, a number of citizens have decided to turn to buying readymade apparels given that they now cost as much or in some cases even less than tailored dresses.
Retailers in the markets are satisfied with the public rush at their stores, noting that it was a high time for them to do good business.
Markets in different parts of twin cities are full of customers which gain further intensity after sundown on the hot days.
Shops selling garments, shoes, jewellery and other accessories can be swamped with women who appear busy trying to match their clothes with accessories or vice versa.
Storekeepers, though, have hiked prices of almost every item from makeup, to jewellery, to making clothes such as fabric sellers, button and other production material retailers, cloth dyers.
As a result, the cumulative cost of making dresses has gone up.
Consumer protection council
Even as retailers hike prices for goods, the Rawalpindi District Consumer Protection Council (DCPC) has started to take action against profiteers and those selling substandard goods.
The DCPC has issued a circular in all the main markets of Rawalpindi district, warning vendors to display the official price lists of essential items and to sell quality goods.
The DCPC has further directed to provide a receipt for each purchase, display ingredients and while the expiry dates should be clearly marked on all items sold.
DCPC Assistant Director Idrees Randhawa has said that strict action will be taken against the violators while they would be presented before the Assistant Commissioner (AC) where heavy fines of up to Rs100,000, could be imposed on them.
Highlighting the benefit of issuing a receipt to a customer, Randhawa explained that a consumer can exchange an item through the council if it is found to become stale before its expiry date.
Moreover, claims that the items were made from substandard material can also be validated.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2019.