HARIPUR, Nov 20: The China-made footwear and cosmetics have flooded the local market on the occasion of Eid, exposing a great danger to the local industry, this correspondent noted during a visit to different shoe and cosmetic shops in the city market.

However, shoppers, particularly belonging to salaried groups find these products a blessing in disguise as ever ebbing purchasing power of theirs, apparently, bars them going for Pakistani products, which are 50 to 70 per cent higher in rates than the Chinese one.

It was observed that the city shops, once stuffed with home made footwear, cosmetics, artificial jewellry, cloths and woollen garments on the particular occasion of Eid, are being rapidly replaced with those of Chinese products which are comparatively more attractive, trendy and cheaper than ours.

These items with different varieties not only attract a customer easily owing to its outlook, less weight, but also offer a handsome profit to the shopkeepers who are doing roaring business because of a sudden change in the buying trend of citizens.

“Unlike previous year I purchased imported (Chinese) quality of footwear to put on sale because the majority of shoppers like to have cheaper, fashionable designs and imported ones which is only made possible by our Chinese friends,” said Abdul Waheed a shoe store owner who once used to purchase shoes and sandals from Lahore.

He said that Chinese products, which were smuggled into Pakistan via Karakuram Highway in connivance with the Customs authorities and police of Hazara division, had almost flooded all the big markets of the country.

He further said that whole sellers, mostly Afghans, provided Chinese products at doorsteps, which saved shopkeepers’ resources and troublesome visits to big markets.