August 11, 2024 (MLN): Blaring horns, fluttering buntings, proudly waving flags, merch stalls overflowing with independence tees, gleaming badges, jingling bangles, masks, stickers, and balloons everywhere, and the air thick with national songs, echoing through every corner, Karachi’s streets are awash with patriotic fervour as August 14, 2024, nears.

The scene is vibrant, electric alive almost intoxicating, with smiling stall owners and a swarm of eager customers buzzing like bees. At first glance, everything seems perfect, faces lit with excitement, flooding merchandise spread across dozens of stalls showing bustling business.

No doubt, it is a prime business opportunity that every vendor, wholesaler, and retailer is trying to seize.

But scratching the surface of this colourful sight a bit, a stark reality was awaiting us which gave the hard reality check, dampening the festive spirit.

A deeper conversation with the stall owners revealed another story. The once-booming business is now on a sharp decline since COVID-19 and has only worsened in the last two years, nothing short of a nightmare.

Hidden behind the cheerful chaos in the buzzing streets for Independence Day preparations, the spark is dimming for many of the stall owners.  

While gazing wistfully at the thinning crowds, Arshad, a seasoned vendor at the Paper Market in Lighthouse said that this street used to be packed with eager buyers. There were crowds of people who bought these things with so much enthusiasm.

“But now, everything has changed. The energy, the excitement, it’s all gone. Inflation has hit everyone hard. People can barely make ends meet, so they’re not buying like they did before,” he added.

Sharing his disappointment, another stall owner stated, "I have been setting up this stall for the last 35 years but every year the sales is drastically declining."

"The spark of patriotism is just not the same anymore," he said.

The statement of Anisha who runs the stall of green and white bangles was no different.

"It used to be that we would sell out long before August 13 but in recent years, we have had to return the unsold merchandise to the wholesalers," Anisha shared.

The number of actual buyers is decreasing. People come to the market just to soak in the vibes of the Independence Day celebrations, but they leave without making any significant purchases, Rameez, another stall owner said with frustration.

He blamed the government’s policies and sky-high taxes for the slowdown in business.

Business model:

If merchandise remains unsold, retailers/stall owners can return it to the wholesalers which prevents them from huge losses.

However, with sales plummeting more unsold items are piling up and finding their way back to them each year, and this year looks no different. It's part of the business model, one wholesaler explained.

“This situation left us with significant losses," he said.

Likewise, the buyers had a similar story to tell. With reduced quality of life due to rising taxes, and managing basic needs like rent, electricity bills, and food due to soaring prices, living a content life has become a challenge, said Zaheer, a father of two who rode his bike through the market said.

Spending on Independence Day merchandise is now a luxury few can afford, he added.

"We are tired from paying taxes on everything, and the rising cost of living is a constant stress," said another man browsing the stalls.

"I am worried about repaying the debt which I took just to make it through the month. How can I even think about celebrating Independence Day,” he said with a worried expression.

The story does not end here. Mounting political tensions over the past few years and economic uncertainty, particularly for white-collar workers with reduced real income, have blurred the excitement for Independence Day.

Millennials, who once excitedly decorated their homes with buntings, flags, and lights, are now increasingly desperate to leave the homeland in search of better opportunities abroad.

As they have become more aware of the complex political landscape of Pakistan, their outlook has shifted significantly. The lively celebrations of the past now seem like a distant memory, outshined by the search for stability and a brighter future elsewhere.

Copyright Mettis Link News

Posted on: 2024-08-11T18:26:39+05:00