PESHAWAR: Goods meant for Western forces on sale in Bara
By Mohammad Ali Khan
PESHAWAR, July 5: Foodstuff and military accessories originally meant for the US and coalition forces stationed in Afghanistan are on sale in the local Bara markets. Enquiries made at the Karkhano markets, located near the provincial capital, suggest that the American-made food and clothes meant for foreign troops had flooded local markets.
American products are not new for the people of the provincial capital, as during the Afghan war these items used to sell like hot cakes in Bara markets, particularly long shoes and camouflage jackets, which were in great demand.
However, fresh stocks of food and non-food items were seen in these markets some two years ago in a limited quantity. These items are now available in a huge quantity, indicating a greater flow of goods from across the border.
Not only foodstuff, including ready-to-eat meal mainly consumed by coalition soldiers in the battlefield, but US-made digging tools, electric appliances, binoculars, goggles, compasses, tents, sleeping bags, shoes, soldiers’ uniforms and even training manuals, military tactics-related books and war movies are also available in local markets.
The presence of these goods in such huge quantity raises many questions about the handling of their stock across the border. Most of these goods are supposed to be used exclusively by coalition forces as these goods had clear warnings written on them, prohibiting their sale.
Shopkeepers say that youngsters and personnel of law-enforcement agencies are the main buyers of these goods. The presence of smuggled goods is providing a breathing space for low-paid working class of the area who are otherwise facing great hardship because of sky-rocketing prices of local food items.
Shopkeepers say that packed rice, cooking oil and powdered milk are in great demand because of their cheap prices as compared to the local foodstuff.
