KARACHI, Oct 13: While many well wishers and companies are making a beeline to contribute as much as they can for the earthquake victims, market traders are out to fully cash on the situation and raise prices of tent by 100 per cent.

Besides, woollen blankets have also become a rare item in the market as their stocks have already depleted because of huge buying by the companies and people for donation purposes. As a result, traders are now charging 40-50 per cent more for blankets.

As the consumers now appear to be bound to take costly ride by paying huge prices for blankets and tents, the traders are more interested in making windfall on this national tragedy instead of showing any mercy with the quake victims.

Even officials of the city government who are lifting blankets, tents and other items from the markets are paying extra for these goods.

City government coordinator for quake relief operations Raeesuddin Paracha said that many Karachi and Lahore based tent companies had deviated from their earlier rates quoted by them a day back.

He said that these companies, which quoted a price ranging between Rs3,000 and Rs3,500 for tents two days back, are now demanding Rs6,000-6,500, while the rates of large sized tents are now being quoted at Rs8,000 as against Rs4,000.

“We are facing problems as tents are in acute shortage in the market,” he said.

Retailers are demanding Rs500 for woollen blankets (rough surface) as compared to Rs250-300. Woollen blankets are now in high demand as against thin supplies in the market.

“I bring 200 blankets a day and by the time of shutter down only five or six are left,” a blanket dealer in Saddar said, adding that some people were demanding 500 to 1,000 blankets in just one order from each shop but supplies were insufficient.

Woolen blankets, often dubbed Fauji blanket, are arriving from Jhang, Faisalabad and other areas of Punjab.

He said that people were also lifting high quality woollen blankets (smooth surface) which were priced between Rs800 and Rs1,500.

A local blanket maker said that the government was reported to have announced a duty-free import of blankets and it also ensured that all the arrivals will be for the earthquake victims and not for selling at the local market.

Mr Paracha said that his officials were also facing problems in finding blankets in the markets and added that the retailers were charging higher prices for whatever was available with them. He said that some blanket varieties, which were selling at Rs200-300 ahead of the earthquake, are now ruling at Rs800.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS: Mr Paracha said that the prime minister was reported to have ordered the duty-free import of surgical instruments. He said that the wholesale chemist body had requested the prime minister to allow airlifting of surgical instruments from China so that timely requirement could be met.