It is hard to present consolidated sales volume as compared to last year as government does not release sale data except for the listed companies. The prices of ready-made and un-stitched garments, shoes, sandals, bangles, hosiery, artificial jewellery, cosmetics, ladies purses, (either locally produced or imported) have risen by up to 20 per cent due to devaluation of rupee against the dollar and rising cost of production in the last one year.
It is also difficult to differentiate the volume of sales of Eid-specific items, as many people throng markets to buy goods for post-Eid marriage season.
All-Karachi Tajir Ittehad chairman Atiq Mir said price increase does not hamper the shopping spirit of consumers. If somebody or his children fail to buy goods on their own due to financial crunch, other relatives share their happiness, which means sales of items by any way,he said.
Parents, who are hit by rise in the cost of living take a hit on themselves by taking credit to meet the demands of their children, Atiq said.
He said Tariq Road, Hyderi and Clifton have so far been the busiest markets of the city in terms phenomenal jump in sales. He attributed good sales to improved law and order situation and low number of target killing incidents as compared to last year.
Sale of Eid-related items is estimated between Rs40-50 billion, he said, adding that traders and market people invested Rs70-80 billion for Eid season sales which they would certainly recover till Chand Raat.
Asif Ahmed, President, Allawala Market Association on M A Jinnah Road is highly upset this year owing to buyers146 tilt towards Tariq Road, Hyderi, Saddar and Clifton from Allawala Market and Jamia Cloth Market.
He blamed deteriorating law and order situation in two main markets of M A Jinnah Road as main reasons causing 50pc drop in sales.
He said even traders had reduced rates on their own but buyers were frightened to visit these two markets.
On the other hand, owner of ladies ready-made garments store, Ideal Collection at Tariq Road Jawed Iqbal at Tariq Road said that the market is literally bustling with huge turnover of buyers, pushing up sales by at least 25-30pc as compared to last year.
He said that prices of various items have risen by 10-20pc but buyers do not look worried over this aspect.
He added that a slight betterment in law and order situation can be attributed to surging sales. Contrary to Atiq Mirs stance of booming sales in many markets, some traders in Hyderi said that sales are actually depressed by five to 10pc in Hyderi Market due to increase in prices of goods by same percentage in the last one year.
There are more window shoppers than original buyers, he said, adding that if four to five persons of a family are coming to the market for shopping, then only one or two literally take away the goods, he added.
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