Second-hand cloth demand increased:

As the winter sets in, Lahores Flea market have started attracting crowds of buyers. Sale
of variety of clothes in Lunda Bazar has been increased due to the severity of the weather,
survey founded .The prices of warm clothes including gloves ,blankets , jackets, sweaters,
trousers, shirts, overcoats, kids garments also rise due to increase in demand. When talked to the
shop owner Riaz about the price he said price is very low as compared to the quality we
provide. We have no other option but sell clothes at high rates as we also have bought them on
high rates.
Mohammad Ramzan, a customer at Railway station Lunda stalls, said that the prices of new
winter wears were out of their reach. We, therefore, rush to second-hand cloth stalls, where
quality clothes are available at affordable rates, he said. Stall of winter clothes and sale points of
shoes can be witnessed at Railway station, Mayo hospital , Data Darbar , Ghazi road , Center
flats , township area, Multan road and at many other small shopping malls and markets in
provincial capital. But many customers complained that second-hand clothes were also becoming
expensive. The prices of used clothes are spiraling every year, commented a shopper at weekly
bazaar. The rush of the buyers was visible at secondhand clothes at the railway station Lunda
bazar and Data darbar areas. The lunda bazar setup in central flats areas was also thronged.
People visit these markets and buy wollen clothes for winter.
A piles of secondhand clothing including sweaters, caps, shoes, socks, quilts and blankets
can be seen visibly at these localities. People were surfing these piles to select their favirites,
pieces. When talked to the customers a young lady responded that it is a herculean task to find
a clothes of my choices here but after all there is no other option left because prices shoot up for
first hand products. Raffique Ahmed said he visited railway station to buy jackets and socks for
his three children. He said though the lunda bazaar stallholders had increased the prices, they
were still affordable compared to the markets. On the other hand, the stallholders said the city
district government Lahore had increased the stall fee forcing them to increase the prices.
Winter is always a peak season for the sale of the secondhand clothing. We have been in this
business for long. In the summer, people mostly buy T-shirts, women dresses, shoes and
handbags.

In Pakistan recently the import of used clothes has been increase significantly due to high
prices of locally manufactured clothes and inflation. These used clothes are selling briskly across
the country. Figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) revealed import of 167,969 tons ($63
million) of worn clothing (jackets, sweaters, trousers, shirts, overcoats, kids garments, etc) in
July-November 2012 as compared 158,942 tons ($59 million) in the same period of 2011.
Poverty is the prime factor behind the increasing demand of these clothes. For example the
price of the locally manufactured jacket is of 1500 to 2000 in local market while in these markets
people try to bargain such products at 100 to 300 rupees. The high prices actually forces many
middle and lower class people to buy sub-standard quality at low prices. Traders and customers
are bargaining for prices here .Traders are demanding Rs 500 for a leather because they know
that these people cant afford to buy from local market at Rs 1200-1500. While customers try to
grab as much as low price.
Railway station and its adjacent areas is considered as the hub of used items but in the last few
years used wearable articles have been visible in almost all the main markets across the country
followed by rising trend of selling these items on push carts. High imports of used items (both
summer and winter wear) suggest that the living standard of many people has actually fallen.