MINGORA: With fresh snowfall on the mountains and rainfall in the plains the winter’s Friday bazaar in Swat has started receiving large number of customers searching for used jackets and woolen stuff.

The visitors to the bazaar coming from different parts of Swat said they were interested in jackets, pullovers and shoes to deal with severe cold weather after the snowfall.

Majority of the visitors to the flea market were from the mountainous areas, including Kalam, Bahrain, Mankyal, Madyan, Miadam, Kokarai, Jambil, Matta and Kabal. However, a good number of people from plains are also visiting the market.

“I purchased a quality jacket from the flea market,” said Ikram Ali, a resident of Miandam, who came to the market along with his friends.

As all the shops in the bazaars of Mingora remain closed on Friday, dealers of second-hand stuff come out to the streets.

“I visit the bazaar in Mingora every Friday because I find hundreds of stalls full of warm clothes, jackets, socks and other woolen stuff of different varieties available at affordable prices,” said Sarzamin Khan of Jambil. He said he purchased good quality socks and a muffler.

The flea market is not only highly beneficial for poor and middle class customers, but also gives an opportunity to hundreds of stallholders to earn handsome money.

“Before the winter season I usually go to Karachi and collect enough stock of woolen dresses, jackets and socks to be sold in Mingora in the months of December, January and February, and earn money sufficient for rest of the year,” said Abdul Wadood, a stallholder.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2019