Independence Day zeal grips Punjab

Citizens, traders complain of expensive locally made decorative material

LAHORE:

Loads of green flags can be witnessed across the provincial capital as well as other districts of Punjab to celebrate the Independence Day with fervour.

Citizens are buying badges, lights, buntings and national as well as Kashmir flags.

Sources said the owing to the Covid-19 lockdown, flags, stickers and badges could not be imported from China this year.

Nevertheless, Lahore's Urdu Bazaar is fully decorated with flags demonstrating the love of citizens for the country. People from nearby cities are also buying ornamental and festive items to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of independence.

Popular items include dupattas, badges, stickers, flags, caps, clothes, trumpets, bags, posters and bandanas. Face painting is also loved by children and adults alike.

A citizen, Mohammad Imran, said he had come to Lahore from Kasur to buy celebratory goods.

“People not only decorate their homes but also the main bazaars with national flags and buntings,” he said, adding, “This time people also bought the Kashmir flag to exhibit solidarity with fellow Muslims.”

A woman, Saima, said she had come with her children to buy goods.

“These items are expensive in our neighborhood but are cheaper here and there is more variety in the Urdu Bazaar.”

“The kids have bought material for face painting including colours and brushes. They have also bought different types of badges and a huge flag.” Saima complained that the price of the national flag had doubled compared to last year.

Vendors, on the other hand, argue that locally manufactured goods are costlier compared to imported ones and since Covid disrupted import from China, they were forced to buy local material that costs more.

Sheikh Abdullah, a trader, said he has been selling decorative goods in August for the past many years and even imported goods from China.

“Chinese goods have more variety and are cheaper but businesses were closed due to the lockdown so these items were not ordered from the neighbouring country,” he stated, confirming that locally manufactured goods are expensive.

The trader revealed that the price of the national flag sold in the market ranges between Rs200 to Rs2,000 depending on the size and quality, while badges range between Rs10 to Rs50.

Furthermore, Abdullah said, “Flag buntings are also being sold between Rs80 to Rs500 per hundred in some markets.”

Citizens were wary that inflation has made it difficult for the common man to celebrate Independence Day.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2020.