KARACHI: Buying spree for Id and Christmas is coming into full swing, pushing up the prices in its wake. The heaviest rush is at shops selling shoes and cloth, the prices of which have registered an increase of about 25 per cent in about 10 days.

Yesterday [Dec 9], happy children, accompanied by their parents, converged on shoe shops and while they noisily selected shoes, the parents bargained over the prices.

A pair of shoes for teenagers sold last week for Rs. 20 was selling yesterday for Rs. 25. A pair of Moccasins that cost Rs. 25 last week was selling yesterday for Rs. 30. A pair of sandals, available last week for Rs. 22, was offered yesterday for Rs. 28. A pair of slippers that fetched Rs. 15 last week was sold for Rs. 20 yesterday.

The prices of men’s clothes and hosiery too have increased by 25 per cent, although the textile mills claimed that they had not increased the ex-mill rates.

Quality poplin shirting sold last week for Rs. 6 per yard was selling yesterday for Rs. 7 per yard. Ordinary tussore sold last week for Rs. 4.50 per yard was offered yesterday for Rs. 5.50 per yard. A handkerchief which sold last week for Rs. 2 was selling yesterday for Rs. 2.50. A vest was offered yesterday for Rs. 2 as against the normal price of Rs. 1.50.

[Meanwhile, as reported by an agency in Lahore,] a party of 60 Muslim pilgrims, subject to the approval of Government of India, will visit the shrine of Hazrat Bu Ali Shah Qalandar at Panipat (India) from Jan 8 to 15, 1968.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2017