The first winter rain spell, which started in the twin cities on Saturday and continued on Sunday, turned the weather cold in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, compelling most of the people belonging to the low-income groups to visit flea markets for purchasing warm clothes.
Second-hand clothes once considered the most sold item at the beginning of the winter season, have become out of reach for the low-income groups owing to the increasing prices of every commodity due to internationally induced inflation in the country.
A huge rush of people can be seen at the flea markets in the twin cities soon after the rain spell forecast by the weather experts for purchasing warm clothes, woollies, caps, socks, jackets and hoodies for their children to save them from chilly weather effects.
Although rising inflation has impacted all sections of society by limiting their purchasing capacity those belonging to the lower middle class are suffering the most.
According to Akbar Ali, a buyer at a flea market in Rawalpindi who has four children, “The second-hand clothes, which we use to buy during every winter season for our children are now being sold at very high prices in the flea markets and becoming out of our purchasing power”.
“Buying only a few clothes has upset my whole month's budget what to talk about the needs of those who are poor”, he said and added that the clothes in flea markets were once considered as affordable for people even belonging to the poor class but now the exorbitant rates of clothes in these bazaars have caused a sense of frustration among them.
Amina Farrukh, another buyer who bought some woollies from the pushcart selling second-hand imported clothes said, “During the prevailing price hike situation, it is hard to manage to buy clothes for my three children when only one person in the house is earning”.
The online shopping websites selling the leftovers and imported clothes are also exploiting the customers by charging extra money, she said.
Nasir, a father of four children said, “Flea markets through providing a variety of imported clothes at economical prices is a great source of protecting the dignity of white collar strata in a society where wearing a good dress means a lot to get respect from others.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2022.
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