KARACHI, Aug 19: A thin attendance of visitors was witnessed at the Koocha-i-Saqafat, the city’s weekly cultural corner, on Sunday when it was held for the second time since the June 23 rains and storm.

Only a few stalls were set up at the event, held at M.R. Kiyani Road, though all the four sections were there.The event organizers admit that the people’s response was disappointing due to lack of punctuality, variety and support from big companies, to say the few.

“We could not maintain the punctuality if something bad happens in the city or weather goes wild,” said an organizer, adding that at least some reputed local companies can patronize any of the four segments -- representing artists and artisans, books, food and handicrafts -- which may help attract visitors.

The organizer said such sponsorship could also include publicity through the media, which could fetch people to the event. “We have contacted informally to some companies to persuade them for sponsorship but to no avail as yet,” said another organizer.

The number of bookstalls, which was over a dozen in good days, was just five this Sunday while the stallholders at other sections were found sitting idle. “It is becoming too difficult to bear all this because at the end of the day we return home without any profit,” said a bookseller.

A saleswoman at a stall in the handicrafts section said they sold the stuff firsthand without involving any third party thus it was too economical and cheap for the buyers.

“We prepare this stuff at home and sell it at our own on cheaper prices yet we find few buyers,” she said.

A similar comment was passed by a stallholder in the food section, who said they had brought home-cooked hygienic food but could not sell anything.

Artists and artisans had no different viewpoint as one said, “The organizers should do something different every week to motivate people coming out of their homes and let the show goes on.”