With the onset of the winter seasons, there has been an immense increase in the purchase of new and used warm clothing in the open market. However, due to the high inflation, the prices of warm clothes have increased enormously this year, while the government has also imposed heavy customs duty and tax on the import of all the second-hand warm clothes coming as aid from foreign countries.
Dealers and traders of warm clothes have been protesting against this for the past several months. Dozens of temporary stalls of used warm clothing have cropped up at Jamia Masjid Road, Raja Bazar, Nirankari Bazar, Bara Bazar, Railway Station Road, Pohri Pul Road and Tinchbhata Main Bazar areas of Rawalpindi city and cantonment. These stalls have encroached on all major markets and it has become difficult for citizens to walk through.
This year, compared to last year, the prices of second-hand warm clothing have increased by 50%. In the open market, all the big shops and multinational companies have started selling the warm clothes left over from last year's winter sale at cheap prices. But the stalls of second-hand warm clothing are seeing more rush of citizens.
In major markets, new men's coats are selling from Rs5,000 to Rs12,000, overcoats from Rs14,000 to Rs20,000, sweaters for men from Rs3,500 to Rs8,000, new women's coats from Rs7,000 to Rs15,000, women overcoats are available at Rs20,000, sweaters for women at Rs5,000 to Rs7,000, children's warm coats at Rs2,500 and children's sweaters at Rs4,000. Their old stock prices have been slashed by 20 to 30 per cent in the name of the sale. The prices of old warm clothes in flea markets have increased due to new taxes, customs duties and inflation.
The warm jacket for men in a flea market is priced at Rs1,500 to Rs2,000, men's sweaters from Rs500 to Rs700, men's coats from Rs1,000 to Rs1,500, men's overcoats from Rs2,500 to Rs3,500, women’s coats at Rs2,500, women’s overcoats at Rs4,000, women’s sweaters from Rs700 to Rs1,000, women’s warm shawls from Rs150 to Rs300, children's warm coats at Rs200, sweaters from Rs150 to Rs500 and girls shawls at Rs200. Low-income workers, middle-class men and women have started to rush to these stalls.
Flea market businessman Ismatullah said that the government has now imposed heavy customs duties and taxes on second-hand imported clothes as well. Earlier, there used to be a minor duty, but due to the cost of petrol, the costs have increased, so the prices of second-hand clothes have also increased.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2022.
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