PESHAWAR: Prices of second hand goods in Peshawar and other cities of the province have increased as the coronavirus pandemic, which broke out in December last year, continues to hit supplies to Pakistan.
On the other hand, the demand for used clothes and shoes which increased due to financial crises has also led to an increase in prices.
Second-hand business entrepreneur Muhammad Tayyab told Profit that the import of used goods has stopped due to coronavirus lockdowns due to which goods including shoes, sweaters, jackets, and other items are being sold at higher prices than before.
“We were not able to import goods for almost six months. Traders buy second-hand goods in the off-season due to low prices, but this year, most traders around the world could not order imports from March onwards,” he said, adding that lockdowns in markets in the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK) and South Korea, the main suppliers of such products, had also affected businesses here.
To a question, he replied that a pair of shoes that used to cost Rs1,200 is now being sold at Rs1,500 to Rs3,000.
Usman, a resident of Peshawar, told Profit that landa bazaars have been adversely affected by the overall price-hike in the country.
He added that the sharp rise in inflation across the country over the past two years has forced people to buy second-hand goods, which led to increased rates. “Rising inflation has made it difficult for the common man to buy brand new items and most of the people are flocking to the second hand markets even though there is not enough variety available this year due to supply issues,” he explained.
It may be mentioned here that there is a huge rush in Peshawar city’s flea markets, including Nothia bazaar, Board Bazaar, Hashnagri and Kohati Bazaar as the second wave of the novel virus continues to gain momentum in the country.
