Upper middle class also opts for landa bazaars

With the advent of winter, a large number of people are visiting the landa bazaars for purchasing second-hand shoes, woollies, children wear and jackets. The landa bazaars, established on the footpaths of Jamia Masjid Road, Bank Road and Haider Road, continue to attract poor, middle and upper middle classes. Every year in winter, thousands of people visit Jamia Masjid Road and other places to purchase items for personal use and their families. During a survey of some shops, it was observed that inflation and poverty were forcing more and more people to opt for used clothing. “My purchasing power does not allow me to purchase branded items,” said Arshad Hussain, a father of four, while talking to Pakistan Today at a landa shop situated on the Jamia Masjid Road.
Arshad said with the onset of every winter, he visited the market for purchasing second-hand shoes and woollies for his children to protect them from harsh weather. Talking about the quality and prices, he said second-hand imported items were not only affordable for poor but also attractive and durable than locally-manufactured branded ones. However, some other visitors bemoaned fact that the prices were also increasing in the landa bazaar as well. They were of the view that the prices of used items witnessed significant increase when compared with the last year.
Rashid Khan, who runs a shoes shop on Bank Road, said, “No doubt, the prices of second-hand items at landa bazaars witnessed increase this year; however, the available commodities were still relatively inexpensive.”
When asked about the reasons behind the hike, Khan said, “Imposition of heavy import duty, inflation and raise in petroleum prices has caused the significant raise in second-hand items’ value.” Raja Ahsan, who was in search of a sweater, also notices difference in prices, saying, “The jacket I bought last year at Rs 300 is now available for Rs 500.”
But Ali Gul, a plumber by profession, was happy with his shopping, as he was able to get, what he said, reasonably priced and durable pairs of shoes for his two children.
“Prices here are quite reasonable and much less than other commercial areas in the posh parts of the city. But still you need to be good at the bargaining,” said Shazia Bibi, who is a frequent visitor of landa shops near the Jamia Masjid. During the survey, one noticeable thing was that the upper middle class families had sharply replaced the poor as the agile shoppers.
The reason behind their preference is that skyrocketing prices, rising inflation and shrinking income have hit the middle and upper-middle classes hard and they feel no hesitation to roam around the landa bazaars in contrast to the past practices. “I have come here to purchase imported warm clothes, which are very high-quality and priced within our means,” said Fakhir, a young software engineer. “Earlier, I used to purchase shoes from the city’s top store but the alarming inflation has forced me to think about other options,” said Tahir Khan, a university student who was happy after finding a pair of high-quality shoes.