FAISALABAD, Nov 29: The prices of used clothes have been enhanced by the shop keepers from 30 to 50 per cent as the weather becomes cold.

A number of buyers at the markets outside Jhang Bazaar, Ghulam Muhammadabad, Kutchery Bazaar, Batala Colony and other parts of the city told this correspondent on Saturday that a sweater being sold from Rs30 to Rs50 about a fortnight ago was now selling between Rs40 and Rs75. Similarly, jackets and overcoats which were sold from Rs70 to Rs100, are now being sold at Rs100 to Rs150.

However, vendors were selling clothes at lesser rates than the shopkeepers. Interestingly, fashionable and modern girls as well as well-dressed youngsters were also seen purchasing used clothes. Children's clothes were in great demand and heavy rush was seen around these shops.

Some women complained that the prices were higher than the last year due to reasons best known to the shopkeepers. Used carpets, curtains and bedspreads were of better quality than the local-made products which forced them to purchase them, they added.

Shopkeepers Naveed and Falak Sher in Jhang Bazaar, Zeeshan in Batala Colony and Naseer of Ghulam Muhammadabad claimed that they had purchased the clothes at higher rates from wholesalers in Karachi.

They claimed that the government had imposed heavy duties on import of used clothes as a result of which their prices were increased. They also claimed to have paid heavy bribes to the Tehsil Municipal Administration (City) and traffic police officials for setting up makeshift shops or parking their carts. That was why they had no option but to increase the prices of the commodity, they added.