KARACHI: Traders of Independence Day related items had a field season this time around as sales have doubled compared to last year.

Sales of these items — like flags, buntings, badges, arm and wrist bands, caps, T-shirts, etc — across the country reached nearly Rs6 billion, with flags holding the lion’s share.

Retailers of vehicle audio systems also did a roaring business as many people rushed to install these systems for playing national songs on high volume.

The celebration also brought more business orders for shop owners lending audio or echo system carrying big speakers on which kids and young boys were seen dancing on national songs in many areas.

Some traders were of the view that the countrywide Independence Day business volume must have crossed Rs10 billion, taking into account the sale of number of items coupled with sale of audio systems, CNG and petrol.

Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said petrol sale on Aug 13 was more than normal. CNG vehicle owners, fearing closure of station on the Independence Day, also took gas in higher quantity.

However, Sami said, there was normal lifting of petrol and CNG on Thursday due to already enough filling the day before.

Independence Day celebrations in most schools this year played a major role in boosting sales of various items, especially various varieties of flags, arm and wrist bands, badges, buntings, etc.

Flag manufacturers raised prices by 20 per cent this year on the back of escalating demand. The retailers and roadside stall owners fully cashed soaring demand by charging more than double price from the consumers.

A flag maker at Hassan Ali Effandi Road said that since the retailers and roadside stall owners do not have any limit of profit margin, they have made the Independence Day more than their expectations in terms of overcharging. They demanded more than 100 per cent price from original procurement wholesale prices.

For example, he said, flag badges, which were priced at Rs10-15 per badge in wholesale markets, were sold at Rs25-30. Similarly the retailers charged at least Rs50 for a small flag which was available at Rs20-25 in the wholesale market.

Parents spent at least Rs150-250 on one kid for buying small flag, rubber and cloth arm bands, plastic badge, bunch of green paper flags, etc.

Due to huge rush of buyers, many retailers had either run out of stocks by the night of Aug 13 or closed down their stalls after selling out all stocks. Traders said sales of various Aug 14 related items remained brisk in almost all parts of the country.

Traders of up-country also procured these items from Karachi-based manufacturers in large quantities.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2014