Winter woes: This December, inflation digs its claws deep into winter-wear market

The buyers seem busy bargaining over the prices while the vendors blame the govt.

SUKKUR: As soon as the cold wave from Siberia hit the city, the poor and middle class were seen rushing to the Lunda Bazaar in search of economical winter clothing and shoes. Much to their surprise as well as dismay, they realised that even the market wasn’t spared from inflation.

In Sukkur, the biggest Lunda Bazaar is set up around the walkways of busiest Minara Road and its surrounding areas, where thousands of people are seen visiting stalls in search of warm clothes and shoes.

The prices of sweaters and jackets, which were earlier between Rs100 and Rs150, are now being sold between Rs200 and Rs400, depending on the quality of the material. Similarly, shoes, which were earlier sold between Rs50 and Rs200, are being sold between Rs150 and Rs500.



The buyers seem busy bargaining over the prices of winter clothes while the vendors blame the government for levying unnecessary taxes in total disregard for the living standards of the poor.

Khan Zaman was reluctant to offer any concessions on the sweaters and jackets he was selling. He told The Express Tribune that earlier, a bag consisting of 500 sweaters was available for Rs25,000 but now it costs between Rs30,000 and Rs32,000, out of which almost 10 per cent stock goes to waste. Similarly, he said, a bag consisting of 100 jackets used to cost Rs10,000, but now it is priced at Rs15,000.

Shoe seller Mohammad Akhtar said he had shoes for everyone. Holding a pair of joggers in his hands, he said, “Do you see these? They are like a new pair of shoes but the buyers are not willing to pay Rs300 for this, while in the shops, the price of such joggers start from Rs800.” Meanwhile, a woman came to his stall to buy shoes. The transaction did not, however, take place because of the lack of consensus over the price of the product. “I can give you Rs150 for this,” she said, but the vendor would not budge from Rs200. The woman talking to The Express Tribune complained that the vendor was charging too high a price for old and used shoes.

Elderly Haseena Mai was looking for sweaters for her grandchildren and despite visiting various stalls, she had not purchased anything. The changing weather does not affect the rich as they are blessed with every facility, she said. But, for people like her, the Lunda Bazaar is the only option, she said, lamenting that the goods at the Lunda Bazaar also seemed to have gone beyond their purchasing power.

“A couple of years ago, I used to buy sweaters and jackets for my children at very reasonable prices, but now the rates are very high,” she complained. To that, the vendor replied, a couple of years ago, wheat flour was available at Rs18 per kilogramme and now it is being sold at Rs45 per kilogramme. “We too need to feed our families. How it is possible for us to sell the goods at a lower price after having purchased them at higher rates?” he questioned.

Kashif Ali is a clerk at a government department and he was looking for a coat. These vendors are very sharp, he said, adding that they lower the prices only after negotiations. He is demanding Rs400 for this coat, he said, showing a grey coat. “Just go to the bazaar and ask the price of such a coat and then only you will come to know that our rates are very reasonable,” replied the vendor angrily. The young man left without making a purchase.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2013.