KARACHI, Aug 13: On the eve of the Independence Day, an obvious lack of enthusiasm by the countrymen and monetary exhaustion following the Eid shopping spree was blamed on low sales of flags, buntings and badges.

The knick knacks, including badges, wrist bands and caps, once considered a part and parcel of the August 14 celebrations, failed to attract many buyers.

“It would be silly to doubt the sense of patriotism of Pakistanis. This sentiment drives ordinary people to spend liberally on flags, badges, caps, etc to celebrate the Independence Day.

This year, people are not buying because they have already spent money on Eid shopping and don’t want to further upset their family budgets,” a market expert commented.

Last year, August 14 fell six days before Eid while this year the Independence Day came just after the three-day festival.

Little buyers stay away

Talking to Dawn, a stall owner at Gurumandir said that the closure of schools on August 14 has also led to slow sales. “Young children often buy these items in groups for school functions and that means good business for us. However, as most schools are closed this time around, the sale volume is low,” he opined.

Yet another factor that is affecting sales is the weather, he said. “Rain has also dampened the sales as many buyers opted away from buying paper flags and other items,” he said.

However, he hoped that a last minute buying spree by youngsters might lift the sales.

Low spirits

Apart from Hasan Ali Affandi Road, most parts of the city saw depressed sales, with many dealers suggesting ‘mixed sales trend’ and lacklustre festivities.

An apt case in point is Pakistan Chowk. Once called the hub of celebratory items, with a few stalls here and there, the place looked bereft of any activity.

When asked if inflation and a possible increase in the prices of badges and flags were acting as a deterrent, Shaikh Nisar Ahmed of VIP Flags said: “We have not raised the prices and our sales are quite brisk especially at Hassan Ali Affandi Road.”

He went on to explain that the actual buying of flags and other items got underway after the Eid break. “Most people came out to buy the items after the third day of Eid,” he added.

However, he lamented the ‘loss of nationalism’. “It is quite painful to see that the spirit of celebrating Independence Day is gradually fading every year among people.

Even the government is not showing an interest and the occasion is not really being celebrated at a national level. No government in the past has taken any interest and it’s only the general public that observes this day,” he said.

He said that the government’s decision to close down schools would further diminish the importance of Independence Day among children. When asked which political party lifted flags on this occasion, he said only Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) had lifted 20,000 national flags from his company.

He observed that many government establishments had hoisted old flags at their main head offices and buildings instead of purchasing new ones.

On buying of flags and other items from upcountry customers, he said buyers from interior Sindh, Quetta and some parts of Punjab turned up in very low number as compared to last year.