Demand for warm clothes on the rise

Buyers throng markets and weekly bazaars to buy warm stuff

ISLAMABAD:

The demand for warm winter clothes has seen a sharp rise in the federal capital after the recent cold wave. As evening temperatures have registered a significant decrease since the last rain spell in the city, residents have been compelled to layer up with sweaters and jackets to keep themselves warm.

A large number of buyers thronging markets, second-hand clothes stalls and weekly bazaars to buy warm stuff.

Since the temperatures of twin cities dropped significantly, the citizens are compelled to wear warm clothes to keep themselves cosy and protected from seasonal diseases and risks associated with a new variant of COVID-19, Shagufta Shahid, a mother of four children, said.

“Since the country is witnessing unusual cold weather due to the changing climatic patterns, it is necessary to take all the precautions to prevent ourselves and especially children from the seasonal diseases which can weaken immune system when already the threat of new variant of COVID-19 is looming on our heads”.

“During the ongoing cold wave in the country, we should be extra cautious in case of our children and ensure they wear hoods, caps and socks all the time”, she said.

Irum Khan, another mother said, “I have purchased Winter clothes and other accessories in bulk for my children, taking advantage of the discounts being offered by different brands ahead of birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Christmas and New Year celebrations”.She said, “I always buy Winter clothes during the sale offers as it is difficult to buy things at the advent of the season when prices are at peak.”

She said the trend of online shopping websites has made it easier to buy Winter essentials, since the outbreak of the pandemic. I have purchased clothes for my children from a popular online leftovers shopping website at very reasonable rates.

For Tajjamul Shah, who is a retailer of kids wears at F-10 Markaz, December is the best month of the season to earn huge profit through offering discounts for Christmas, New Year and birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan. He said, “We manage to earn a maximum profit of the whole season during this month through offering discounts.”

Health experts have also advised the citizens to take precautionary measures for the protection of children and old ones from Winter related diseases considering their weak immune system.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the night temperature in the capital city fell to -01 last night which can persist in the coming days. The upper parts of the country, including Rawalpindi and Islamabad, will remain under the cold wave, with no chance of rain in the next two days.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2021.