With only three days left before Eidul Azha, blacksmiths and knife sharpeners are all set to make roaring business in the capital.
Knife sharpeners, blacksmiths trained and untrained, who are in high demand especially on the first day of Eid, have received numerous orders despite the exorbitant charges for their services.
Special machines have been installed at various shops to sharpen knives, axes, beef cutters and meat cleavers along with stalls selling Bar-B-Q instruments. With decorated handles and sharp-edged instruments, these are attracting a huge number of customers.
Sale of butchers’ appliances including knives, cutters and stand blades has also recorded an increase ahead of Eid.
Shopkeepers as well as professional blacksmiths belonging to far flung areas and suburbs have rushed to sell these tools in different areas of Aabpara, Melody (Civic Centre), Sitara Market, G-8, I-9, I-10, F-10 Markaz, Tarnol, G-13, Bhara Kahu and Rawat localities of the twin cities.
Raja Mohsin, a blacksmith in Aabpara, who was hammering on a burnt iron sheet to make a sharp knife, said, “We have got a contract to deliver 10 iron sheets and 20 different kinds of knives from a butcher house at Bhara Kahu ahead of Eid.”
Before Eid, we have a very busy season, whereas we have little work for the rest of the year, he said.
Another blacksmith Rauf Ahmad said that in this season his sales were high and he saved over Rs 2,000 per day.
Meanwhile, vendors were seen roaming on bicycles to sell tools for sacrifice, besides offering services to sharpen the rusted slaughter equipment. Fahad Aki, another stallholder, said that these were great days for them and they could do full business.
An elderly man Hakim Khan said that if special Sasta Bazaar was made available for them, then they could offer a handsome discount to the customers, because in busy localities of the capital markets each shopkeeper was demanding 500 and 1000 per day for the stalls.
A senior retired official in Sitara Market area demanded of the authorities to arrange special Sasta Bazaars as there was a huge demand of knives and cutters ahead of Eid.
