Poor shiver in cold as high prices prevail even at ‘Lunda Bazaar’

Rawalpindi

‘Lunda Bazaars’ in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were overcrowded with people, particularly women, in search of second-hand warm clothing like sweaters, jackets, caps, socks and gloves for their children on Sunday.

‘Lunda Bazaar’ is the only ray of hope for the poor but high prices there do not allow them to buy even second-hand clothes in this severe cold weather.

Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) Child Specialist Professor Dr. Rai Muhammad Asghar said that children are suffering from pneumonia due to severe cold weather. All hospitals are facing shortage of beds in the city due to pneumonia-affected children these days, he said. He advised mothers to wrap up their children in warm clothing to save them from pneumonia.   

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Director Dr Muhammad Hanif, the residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are facing severe weather conditions as hilly areas like Murree, Nathiagali and Ayubia have received snowfall. The winds coming from these hilly areas have increased the intensity of cold in the twin cities.

A large number of people visited 'Lunda Bazaars' in  Saddar, Railway Road, Raja Bazaar, Sadiqabad and Bagh Sardaran in Rawalpindi and CDA Weekly Bazaar in Sector H-9 of Islamabad.  

Talking to ‘The News,’ people said “Prices of warm clothes have skyrocketed even in the 'Lunda Bazaar'.”

Gulzar Ahmed, a poor man at Saddar 'Lunda Bazaar', said that he wanted to buy a sweater but it was beyond his reach. “I have only Rs200 in my pocket but the seller is demanding Rs450 for this sweater,” he said.

Lala Naushad, a labourer, had no choice but to leave the bazaar without buying anything for his son. He was not the only one who was facing this situation. It is the story of every person who belongs to lower middle or lower class. Because of inflation, buying power of the people has squeezed and almost everything has gone beyond their reach.

Earlier, the poor could buy a sweater between the range of Rs60 to 100 from ‘Lunda Bazaar’ but now the price has jumped to Rs250 to 400. A pair of socks was available for Rs20 but now it is for Rs50.

Rehana Kausar, a housewife, said “I want to buy gloves for my two children and a jersey for my daughter. I have Rs500 in my purse but it seems I cannot buy these things with this amount. The seller is demanding Rs500 for a jersey but I have offered him Rs300 it. I can buy gloves if he sells this jersey for Rs300.” With the drop in mercury, the problems for the lower-middle class have multiplied, she said.

Talib Shaikh, a seller in ‘Lunda Bazaar,’ said that in early 90s we used to sell sweaters for Rs15 to 25 and then we have profit margin, but now we are not able to run our house with this business because the prices of clothes have increased manifold. He admitted that mostly poor people visit 'Lunda Bazaar' to buy second-hand clothes but they are distressed because of their exorbitant prices.