KARACHI: Sales of national flags have almost doubled ahead of this year’s Independence Day, in a sharp contrast to depressed business for some years.

A random survey of markets on Monday revealed a visible increase in the number of makeshift stalls selling flags of all sizes and qualities. Anticipating spur in demand, they set up glittering stalls in many areas for a week, playing national songs to attract customers.

The business of buntings, badges, wrist bands and caps is also thriving as majority of schools arrange ceremonies to commemorate Aug 14 where decorative material is used.

Flag makers said that traders and individual stall-owners of Karachi, Quetta, some parts of Balochistan and Punjab have lifted more than 10 million flags so far. The figure is set to rise in the next two days in view of bright sales prospects.

They estimated the countrywide Independence Day sales at around Rs500m to Rs600m despite 15 to 20 per cent increase in prices of flags this year.

The situation is different this year. In 2012, Aug 14 fell six days before Eid while last year it fell three days after Eid. Besides, schools were also closed last year.”

Sheikh Nisar Ahmed Parchamwala, owner of VIP Flags, said the government this year had boosted the confidence of the people to celebrate the day with tremendous zeal and fervour. Opening of schools has further raised flags demand.

“Sales are beyond our estimates and flag makers have bagged more orders than their expectations,” he said, adding that high demand had brought big fortunes for many manufacturers in clearing away unsold stocks of last year.

He said many flag makers have already run out of stocks while others are busy meeting rising demand.

However, he said there was dearth of orders from the interior Sindh buyers while many buyers from Balochistan, especially Quetta, and some parts of Punjab came to Karachi to lift huge stocks of flags.

He said prices of flags have gone up due to rising cost of production caused by jump in prices of flag cloth, power, gas, water and labour charges.

Nisar was unhappy over lack of orders for national flag from political parties saying that the parties were more interested in hoisting their party flags rather than country’s flag.

He said even the Sindh government and various town administrations of the city also remained reluctant in giving any orders.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2014