Flea market prices give chills to residents

As is the norm, the advent of winters results in residents of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi flocking to flea markets in search of warm clothes, woollies, caps, socks, jackets and hoodies.

This year, though, buyers have limited purchasing power due to the rampant inflation. It has also affected prices, which have seen a substantial increase. This has hurt people from lower and middle-income groups the worst.

Sajid Abbasi, a father of four, children, was visibly distressed by the prices. “The second-hand clothes, which we use to buy during every winter season, are now being sold at very high prices and are out of our purchase range.”

He said that getting the bare minimum had ‘spoiled his month's budget’ while wondering how those at the lower rungs of the economic ladder would deal with the winter.

“The clothes at these markets were once affordable for people even for those considered poor. Now, the exorbitant rates of clothes in these bazaars are breeding a sense of frustration,” he continued.

Sajida Rehman, another buyer who bought some woollies from a pushcart, agreed with Abbasi. “During the prevailing price hike, it is hard to manage buying clothes for my three children when only one person in the house is earning.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2023.