KARACHI: The umbrella shops in Karachi don’t sell raincoats, gumboots or gloves and shops which sell the latter don’t sell the former.

“The raincoats, rubber boots and gloves are sold as safety equipment,” said Mohammad Bilal, who owns a car accessories shop at the Plaza motor parts market on M.A. Jinnah Road. “We sell them in bulk to companies and contractors,” he said pointing to a green raincoat displayed at his shop’s entrance.

Another shop that also sells raincoats and gumboots off Frere Road belongs to Mr Mohammad. “My customers also belong to the industry. People don’t usually buy these to stay dry in the rain,” he said.

Besides selling Iranian gumboots, which only cost Rs650 a pair, Mr Mohammad also sells those made in Italy for around Rs5,000 a pair. The raincoats, which are locally made or made in China are for around Rs650 and available in black and green colours. The gumboots were also available in black, green and white colours and are mostly bought in bulk by firefighters.

Meanwhile, umbrellas are available at many shops, including some at Empress Market and M.A. Jinnah Road. There were several colourful umbrellas on display at shops on M.A. Jinnah Road, which also sell caps. Most of the colour umbrellas were for children and the black and brown for adults.

If they sold umbrellas only, they would have gone bankrupt as according to Fayyazuddin Sheikh of H. Islamuddin, Shujauddin, a shop named after his uncle and grandfather, no one thinks of buying an umbrella until it actually pours. “That’s when we get to sell our umbrellas,” he said staring upwards at the overcast sky. “I think we will make some sales in a few days.”

The umbrella prices are from Rs170 to Rs400 depending on quality. And all are made in China. “We used to make fine quality umbrellas here in Pakistan but that industry has closed down now due to labour being expensive here. So made in China it is,” Mr Sheikh said.

When asked why the China-made umbrellas broke so easily and opened up in the opposite direction when held against strong winds, he said it would happen with any umbrella. “You are to close the umbrella in strong winds. It is not made to withstand the wind. It is only made to save you from rain,” he said.

But what if you have rain with strong winds? “Well, if you want to save your umbrella, then close it and get wet because if you don’t then the umbrella would break anyway and you’ll be drenched anyway,” he laughed.

Asked why most big umbrellas were black when lightning is known to strike black things more, the shopkeeper laughed even harder. “It is because we are stupid people. Only a person who falls victim to lightning under a black umbrella will get this and by then it will be too late for him!”

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2014