AALOO le lo, bhindi le lo… that’s one of the few phrases every Karachiite knows by heart since it means that someone with a thela, or pushcart, is in the vicinity. For a city that used to be known as the ‘city of lights’, Karachi has now become the ‘city of Thelas’. This transformation has had both its pros and cons.

For starters, the ladies of the house don’t have to go out for shopping in the swirling heat, as items are available at cheap prices on the push-carts and a person has a wide variety to choose from if more than one thela is in the area.

However, pushcarts can also cause problems. How many times has traffic been blocked in Karachi because of thelay-walas? They have had their fair share in accidents because thelay-walas stand wherever they deem fit, blocking the safe passage of those on foot, on motorbikes or in cars.

Also, when there is an abundance of something the quality suffers. Some pushcart vendors sell substandard stuff at lesser rates than standard shops, but there is no way to return or exchange faulty goods as most thelay-walas are itinerants.

So why do people go for thelay-walas rather than proper shops? It’s a simple question with a very simple answer. One pushcart vendor selling socks and undergarments in Saddar told this writer that their prices are low because they don’t have expenses to meet. “We don’t have to pay rent or electricity bills for our shop and since we are doing this alone, it saves us money since we don’t have to pay salaries to those working for us.”

Some thelay-walas sell knock-offs from China which would give tough competition to brands like Nokia, Sony and Samsung. At times only an expert eye can spot the difference between the real thing and fakes. When I posed the question to a buyer he said that as long as the mobile is working it’s okay, as you never know when you will be relieved of it in Karachi!

But of course the most useful of thelas in the city are the ones selling eatables like bhutta (roasted corn), delicious bun kebabs and other mouth-watering street food. All you have to do is have an eye for the one that you believe is safe to eat, hygiene-wise.—OA