Secondhand clothing costs leave families in the cold

The cost of foreign second-hand winter clothing—such as jackets, coats and shawls—has surged by 50 to 60 per cent compared to last year, placing these essentials beyond the reach of many low-income families.

In response to the increasing prices, larger garment stores have marked down their leftover winter stock by 10 to 25 per cent. However, the rise in prices is particularly evident in traditional markets. The shops specialising in handmade quilts and rugs have also increased their prices significantly, largely due to soaring production costs.

This year, new taxes and customs duties on imported second-hand clothing from Europe have made even these affordable options unaffordable for many. Despite the establishment of hundreds of stalls selling winter apparel—jackets, coats, shawls, sweaters, and socks—across the city and cantonment areas, the financial burden remains heavy for the average shopper. Notable sales are happening in popular markets such as Raja Bazaar, Jamia Masjid Road, and Banni Chowk.

Previously, low-income individuals often relied on cheap second-hand clothes sent from abroad, but the new tariffs, coupled with rising transportation costs from Karachi to Rawalpindi, have stripped this demographic of their usual source of warmth.

As a result, even the wealthier class is turning to used clothing shops and stalls, purchasing items that can be cleaned and refurbished. Women from affluent families now sift through these stalls for quality pieces, which they dry clean to make them appear new.

In the flea market, the prices for children's sweaters range from Rs350 to Rs600, while children's coats and jackets are priced between Rs1,000 and Rs2,000. Adult clothing also sees a substantial mark-up, with sweaters priced from Rs600 to Rs1,000 and jackets ranging from Rs2,000 to Rs3,000. In contrast, new children's winter clothing in larger retail stores can cost between Rs4,500 and Rs10,000.

Ashfaq Bacha, a dealer of second-hand winter clothing, noted that the new customs duties and increased transportation costs due to high fuel prices have driven up the prices of imported clothing. He estimates that if these taxes were eliminated, prices could drop by 40 to 50 per cent.

Local resident Sajid Mehmood expressed frustration, stating, "The tax on everything essential for the poor has made our lives even harder. If the government removes the tax on old clothes, it would provide much-needed relief."