Independence Day items post record sale of Rs 50bn

National events like Independence Day are not only occasions of happiness but also generate huge economic activities, flourishing businesses of small business community in terms of revenues. “Through small investment, vendors who are dealing in the sale of buntings, flags etc can avail opportunities to generate the revenue and profit in small scale business,” President, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and industry (RCCI), Mian Humayun Parvez told APP. Sales of Independence Day related items have increased by 100 per cent as the nation appears more enthusiastic in celebrating August 14 this year — breaking all sales records of previous years, traders said. This year, sales of flags, buntings, badges and other goods began in mid-July, almost two weeks earlier as compared to August 1 last year. The number of roadside stalls increased by more than 50 per cent due to improving law and order situation in Karachi. Meanwhile, festive activities — including flag hoisting, fireworks and musical shows as well as illumination of government buildings — are expected to double this year. “Our sales have already gone up by over 100pc this year and well surpassed our targets,” owner of VIP Flags, Sheikh Nisar Ahmad Parchamwala told media on Friday. “It seems people of Karachi are being extra zealous than people from other parts of the country,” he said. Read more: Mobile phone service to remain suspended on Independence Day in capital “Good thing is that many schools are also celebrating August 14 and holding functions this year. Additional demand this year came from some religious institutions and mosques which are arranging flag hoisting ceremonies coupled with some other celebrations,” Nisar said. He claimed there was thin demand for flags and other items from political parties. A vendor, Zahid Iqbal who is doing the business by selling bunting and national flags at a stall here for last four years, said that he brought various decoration items in connection with independence day from Lahore which, he claimed were 40 per cent costlier as compared to the previous year. He said that different sizes of flags are being sold from Rs.100 to Rs.1000, adding that the sale of shirts and small badges of national flags was much more as compared to other items. Read more: PIA to go ‘Premier’ on Independence Day This year, the bunting stalls are also set up at Islamabad highway near zero points, where vendors Hakam Jan said that he owned three stalls in twins cities and he purchases items from the whole sale market from Raja Bazaar. He said that small flags and shirts are in high demand among the youth of twins cities. On the occasion, a vendor Muhammad Rafique in Saddar area of Rawalpindi said that the children are enthusiastically purchasing national flags, bunting, posters and stickers and expressing their love for their motherland. He said the demand for decorative items including national flags, multi-colored garlands, badges, Minar-e-Pakistan models and portraits of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other national heroes have increased this year.