LAHORE: The camera market in Nisbat Road is facing a severe crisis as mobile phones equipped with modern cameras have overshadowed the conventional digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras, resulting in the downfall of what was once the hub of photography enthusiasts.
Speaking to Pakistan Today, shopkeepers revealed that their business was slumping as most customers nowadays opt for mobile phones because of the features their cameras offer. “Only government departments and corporate bodies are interested in buying DSLR cameras,” they said.
Rehan Ali, a shopkeeper, said, “The government has imposed high taxes on DSLR cameras and because of these taxes, the prices are high. Since these cameras have gone beyond a common man’s reach, people have started opting for cheaper mobile phones.”
Bilal Butt, another shopkeeper, said that they were paying 11 per cent customs duty on cameras. “In addition to 11 per cent tax, we pay two per cent extra in customs duty, 17 per cent in sales tax, six per cent in income tax, three per cent in additional sales tax and then one per cent PRA. All these taxes contribute to the skyrocketing prices of cameras. These taxes are the primary reason why no one buys cameras nowadays,” he said.
While some shopkeepers decried high taxes, Shakeel Ahmed, who runs a shop in the market, said, “People usually rent cameras these days to cut costs. Until two years ago, people used to frequent this market but nowadays we occasionally return home empty-handed without any sales. The only customers we get are wedding photographers, wildlife or sports photographers other than government and corporate departments who need their own cameras,” he said.
A customer in a nearby mobile shop, Adnan Faheem, told this scribe that he opts for good mobile phones instead of DSLR cameras because the features they offer get the job done for him. “Why do I need a DSLR camera when I can get the same features on a mobile phone?” he asked.
Another customer, Ahsan Khalid, said that mobile phones have made photography and editing convenient. “I can take pictures and create videos on my phone and edit them on it as well. Why should I waste my money on a DSLR camera,” he said.
Photo Camera Market President Haji Rahat Ali told this scribe that the entire market was facing a crisis because of new innovations in mobile photography. “There are 230 shops in this market, making it Asia’s biggest camera market. There are 20 labs, 18 camera repairing shops. Mobile phones are manufactured in millions whereas merely the production of cameras is in thousands. People opt for mobile phones because they offer the same features as expensive DSLR cameras,” he said.
Ali said that currently the only customers they were either professional photographers or belonged to government departments but even they were not enough to keep the businesses thriving. “We need to promote conventional cameras and colleges and universities should play an active role in this regard. Moreover, the government should also grant relaxation in taxes to decrease cameras’ prices,” he said, adding that if immediate measures are not taken, their businesses would be closed.
