The days are cooler with nights already chilly in the federal capital, as winter is approaching slowly. The winter is making its presence feel with a thin blanket of fog spreading in the horizon from late night to dawn. It is time to have an extra layer of clothing or to have a heavy sheet or blanket in bed.
With mercury gradually falling down while a considerable decrease in night temperature very much visible, the housewives have started preparations for winter by unpacking woollies and warm clothes. Women, especially those having kids, have taken out the woollies in order to protect the little children from the harsh weather, which can be dangerous, if preventive measures are not taken in time.
The heavy suitcases and bags from stores and cupboards have been opened in order to give them a nice wash and arrange them properly while some women also throng markets in order to get the new ones.
“Unpacking the woollies and clothes is one of the difficult task that has to be done before the arrival of winter; otherwise, different diseases take refuge in ones home and do not leave easily,” said Amna Raza, the mother of two.
According to Amna, unpacking the winter stuff requires some time, as it include many things, like clothes, sweaters, jackets, gloves and others. “Washing and arranging them requires at least a week, as they also consume more space,” she said.
Another housewife, Anum, said “I just cleaned the ceiling fans and wrapped them up while the unpacking of and cleaning of heaters is yet to be done,” she said.
She said unpacking the items like woolen clothes was a difficult and time consuming task, but the women having children faced more trouble than anyone else. “Kids need more care in winter and the gradual arrival of winter can prove dangerous for them if they are not covered properly,” she said.
Meanwhile, stalls have started appearing in markets and weekly bazaars, where socks, warm pajamas, gloves, hats and shawls are displaced to attract customers. Many people are seen crowding around the vendors to buy clothing to get themselves warm, especially at nights. “The nights are quite chilly, when I return to home from my office on motorcycle. I have already started wearing a pullover to make me comfortable, while I am also using gloves,” said Samiullah, who works in a private office.
Quilt-makers are also seen restarting their businesses, as they are making cotton from filthy material, which they collect from lunda bazaar, tailors shops, rag pickers and shops dealing in used items. The market rate of quality is very high, ranging between Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kilogramme. The low quality cotton, fetching Rs 50 per kilogram, is made in several localities including Pirwadhai, Dhoke Jumma, Bangash Colony, Dhoke Syedan, Girja Road, Gangmandi and Adiyala Road. Medical experts said filthy material could cause diseases and infections, as the use of pillows and quilts made of cheap material were among the reasons for the spread of asthma and hepatitis C.
Dr Waseem Khawaja of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Dr Shareef Astori of Poly Clinic, while talking to Pakistan Today advised parents to keep their children warm especially at night to protect them from changing weather. “People are experiencing various seasonal diseases like asthma, chest infection, typhoid, nasal allergy, influenza, soar throat, bronchitis and dry cough these days because of changing weather, adding that majority of them were children and elders.”
