* Sale of quilts, blankets, heaters and geysers increases
ISLAMABAD: The demand for quilts, winter clothes, blankets and heating appliances has increased in the twin cities with the approaching winter season.
"Our business is going very well, although it is just the start of the season and it would gain momentum after rainfall," said a quilts shopkeeper at Sittara Market. He said there was a great demand for quilts, hoping that he would earn handsome money in the season by selling quilts and blankets.
Meanwhile, a large number of people were witnessed buying woollies, jackets and warm clothes from the markets of the twin cities including Aabpara, Karachi Company, Peshawar Mor, Raja Bazaar, Saddar and Commercial Market.
Heaps of used quilts, blankets and rugs are on sale in the weekly bazaars of the capital. Crowds of people can be seen bargaining with retailers in markets and weekly bazaars.
A stall owner, Ahmed Ali, said the demand for used warm clothes was on the rise and he expected that as the mercury decreased, the sales would increase.
"The poor get warm clothes from the second-hand cloth markets at very cheap prices," said Mir Ali, a shopper at a weekly bazaar.
Meanwhile, with the cold wave intensifying, the purchase for heating appliances has also gone up in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The demand for traditional heaters, geysers and other such appliances has nearly doubled this year.
Adil Khan, a shopkeeper, said the change in weather compelled the consumers to purchase these products despite gas shortage and countrywide power outages.
There was a variety of winter items including locally-manufactured heaters, geysers and cooking ranges that were not only expensive but also more durable, a shopkeeper said.
However, an average quality gas heater is available for Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, while an average quality geyser's price ranges from Rs 9,000 to Rs 15,000. The prices of branded geysers manufactured by reputed companies start from Rs 16,000 to Rs 25,000 this season, which are about 10 to 20 per cent higher than in the previous year.
On the other hand, doctors have advised people not to sleep with heaters on. They said people should allow some air passage in to the room where heaters were kept to avoid suffocation.
Increase in demand for dry fruits witnessed: With the advent of the winter season, the sale of dry fruits has increased in the twin cities.
It has been observed that the number of customers seeking dry fruits at various markets is on the increase and vendors are exploiting the opportunity with increased prices.
The prices of dry fruits have gone beyond the reach of the common man. Apart from regular shopkeepers, roadside dry fruit vendors have also raised the prices. The prices of dry fruits including almond, pistachio, walnut, pine nut, dates, cashew nut, dried apricot, coconut, fig and peanut had increased, said a vendor at G9 Markaz.
A shop owner, Gul Khan, at Aabpara Market, said dry fruits were mostly used in the winter season to get some relief from cold and argued that there was no price hike. But many buyers complained that this year the prices of dry fruits were out of their reach.
Most of these fruits grow in hilly areas like Northern Areas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Balochistan, FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In the winter season, many people present dry fruits to their guests as hospitality. Almond is considered favourite and its demand is higher than any other dry fruit. The poor cannot afford buying most of the dry fruits, but peanuts are the most popular item among them due to their lower rates.
Medical experts have warned these winter items could increase the level of cholesterol and fatty acids in the blood. app
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