–Shoppers wary of items coming from Western countries
LAHORE: The business of flea markets in the provincial capital is likely to face huge crises in coming days due to the outbreak of coronavirus and lock-down, Pakistan Today learnt on Tuesday.
Prominent flea markets in the city that are situated near Delhi Gate, Anarkali Bazar, Railway Station, Hospital Road, Ichra etc. sell everything, including used clothes, shoes, toys, electronics, crockery, carpets, interior and decoration and other household items.
Ateeq Butt, a trader and wholesaler in the Delhi Gate flea market informed this scribe that most of the things sold in flea markets come from the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), China or European countries. “Used goods first come to the Karachi Port and are then distributed all over the country. We deal in used electronics items and we pre-book our container mostly from the US. Container costs vary between Rs1.5 million to Rs20 million as the price depends upon the quality and category of products,” he said.
“From July to date, we have invested Rs70 million, ordering containers of used electronic appliances. But the last container which we had ordered in November remains unsold due to lockdown. Now, we fear that after the lockdown people will not come to the market as they will think as these appliances that are coming from the worst affected areas may have the virus. People will not believe that these goods came when coronavirus was not reported,” he lamented.
Mian Fayyaz, a wholesaler of used garments in Anarkali Market, said, “I still have a stock of used winter garments which worth RS45 million and some of my stock is still in Karachi which I had not received due to lockdown”.
“We distribute the used garments in all flea markets of Lahore and even to the handcart vendors. We order these garments from the UK, USA and China. People believe that these garments must be the carrier of COVID-19 as they came from such countries. Even our families also have concern with our business and they are also instructing us to avoid touching these garments. Will the people come to the flea markets again after lockdown?” he questioned.
Similarly, a wholesaler of used toys from Hospital Road, Muhammad Hanif informed this scribe that a stock of worth Rs10 million was still unsold in his warehouse. “I also sale these toys through different online websites and also distribute them to different vendors in Punjab. People are now calling me and asking that are these toys sterilised? The vendors are saying that the procurement of these toys mean to procure coronavirus as all these items are used and came from western countries. It is very difficult for us to sale our goods in future. I think people won’t prefer purchasing used items in the future, especially those coming from western countries and China,” he said, adding that his livelihood was at stake.
“These goods come into the market after several hands. Similarly, in flea markets these things are not presented as displayed in stores. Anyone can try the garments or touch anything on the spot. Now the trend of touching and using things has changed. People are now reluctant to even shake hands and in this situation how can they use the pre-used things? Flea Markets provide the bread and butter from wholesaler to handcart vendor. Without taking serious steps we cannot safe these markets,” Railway Station flea market shopkeeper Safiullah Khan concluded.
