Cold wave drives people to pull out warm clothes

The advent of coldwave in the city, otherwise used to mild temperatures, has made people rush to buy warm clothings. If a person is seen wearing a jacket in late December in the port city, his friends would say, is it snowing? However, the rain on Monday and cold winds of Siberia left little choice for Karachiites to pull out warm clothes from trunks or buy afresh.

Due to inflation and poor economic conditions, the middle and poor class people prefer to buy old winter clothes and shoes instead of new ones.

That is why new and old warm jackets, hoodies or just upper hoods, socks, different types of shoes, mufflers, trousers, trekking suits, gloves, mittens, sweaters and other items are being sold. The sale of these items has provided temporary employment to some people.

The Express Tribune surveyed the local market and found that people from different communities, specially Pakhtuns were selling old winter clothes and other items in all city areas and on major highways. Collective stalls have also been set up on sidewalks at many places.

The prices of these items are not fixed but these business people judge the customer and tell the price. During the day, these people sell items at reasonable price but in the night when mercury drops further, the increase the price to almost double. "These old clothes are brought from Baldia Town," said Jans Khan, a man selling warm jackets in Nazimabad, where they have large warehouses.

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He said that jackets, especially woollen pullovers and hats, are more in demand. Jackets of various types for elders are being sold for price ranging from Rs150 to Rs500 and for children between Rs100 to Rs300. Ibrahim Ahmad, a young man selling ladies' sweaters and jackets in Liaquatabad, said that women from middle and lower-middle class were buying old jackets or sweaters because of high prices of new ones. Nowadays young girls like to purchase long old coats or jeans jackets, and these jackets and sweaters sell in the price range from Rs100 to Rs400.

Jamal Deen, a young man selling children's sweaters and jackets, said that jackets and sweaters for younger ones range from Rs50 to Rs300 and warm clothes for young children are also available at the same price. Wazir Khan, a person who sells old shoes, said that different types of joggers and shoes for men and children could be had for a price from Rs100 to Rs500.

Most people prefer jogger shoes while women prefer to wear shoes made of fabric. These old shoes cost between Rs100 and Rs300. Another seller, Asif Ali said that old clothes and shoes for winter are categorised. Most items are washed first and after ironing, it is sold. This material is picked up in the lot. "Medium and low-grade clothings and footwear are sold at low prices," he said.

At present, pairs of socks are being sold for Rs50 to Rs150, gloves for Rs70 to Rs200, woolen caps for Rs100 to Rs300, mufflers for Rs100, and ear caps for Rs50. "As the cold weather intensifies, sale of old warm clothes, shoes, and other items increases," he said.