IN the West, rich people at the advent of Easter, Christmas, weddings, birth anniversaries and Good Friday discard their old garments to renew their wardrobes. The castaway male and female dresses blankets, rugs, lumber jackets, etc., are exported to countries that are economically depressed. The old garments are sent by shiploads.

It is, however, not clear whether the garments prior to sailing are fumigated to get rid of disease-causing germs. Sadly, the importers of the consignments do not care to fumigate or do something else to keep the consignment risk-free.

The import and export of old clothes is a very lucrative business. It is, therefore, advisable that the old garments, before they appear in Pakistani markets, are fumigated to make them germ-free. One way to check it is that before the old imported clothes are passed on for laundry and when it is taken back by the owner, the laundered clothes should be disinfected. The laundry owner may charge a little, which no customer would mind paying.

Besides the discarded garments, old furniture is also imported. All these items on sale need fumigation to ensure protection from killer germs. Coronavirus needs all efforts to tame it, as it is very hydra-headed.

S. S. Ahmed

Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2020