KARACHI, Jan 24: The sale of illuminations that are used in connection with Eid Miladun Nabi (peace be upon him) has gone up this year while traders of green-coloured flags, specially used on this occasion, have reported a sharp decline in their businesses.

Speaking to Dawn, a number of retailers said that the year witnessed consumers’ sharp tilt towards the wholesale market on Hassan Ali Effendi Road for purchase of various decorative items owing to a vast difference in retail and wholesale rates.

Another reason for buyers’ preference towards the wholesale market was the retailers’ jacking up of prices with each passing day beginning from the first of Rabi-ul-Awwal, they said.

The owner of an outlet, VIP Flags, Sheikh Nisar Ahmed, said that he did not make new flags this year and was selling last year’s stock because of decreasing demand for flags as consumers had mainly purchased decorative lights in higher numbers this year.

Many consumers had used the last year’s flags, he added.

He said that one of the main reasons for a decline in flag sales was the printing of sacred words on them. People had realised that it would be sacrilegious if such flags fell to the ground.

Recalling almost fifty-fifty sale of flags and illuminations last year, he said: “This year the share of sparkling lights and electrically-operated items holds 70-80 per cent market share, while flags’ share is around 20 per cent.

“Not only the government and semi-government buildings, but many residential areas and apartment buildings have also been tastefully decorated with such illuminations,” he said.

“The sale of lights is certainly 25-30 per cent higher this year,” he added.

Claiming no substantial increase in flags prices this year, Mr Ahmed said that the prices of lights had definitely gone much higher this year.

He said that Chinese companies had hugely benefited from the good sale because a majority of electrical items had been imported from China.

“However due to low quality, these lights cannot be used for longer periods,” he added.

Mr Ahmed said that just a day ahead of Eid Milad celebrations, a number of wholesalers on Hassan Ali Effendi Road had run out of stocks.

One of the roadside stall owners in Liaquatabad, Mohammed Owais Qureshi, said: “There is hardly 20 per cent sale of every item this year as buyers are largely going towards wholesale shops.”

“Because of low sale, the number of roadside stalls has also reduced in the area.”

He said that the price of lights and other electrical items had gone up as compared to last year which had affected their businesses.

Giving an example, he said that a 30-ft copper-based-wire light was selling at Rs180 as compared to Rs160 of last year’s rate.

Without the copper wire the price of the same item was Rs135 as compared to Rs100-110 of last year’s, he added.

“A 25 piece packet of illuminated badge is selling at Rs550 while last year it was selling at Rs450.”

He said that flag prices were also high and, one dozen flags (36x54 size) were available at Rs900 while last year it were selling at Rs800. —Aamir Shafaat Khan