Sales of national flags have almost doubled ahead of this year’s Independence Day, in a sharp contrast to depressed business for some years.
The business of buntings, badges, wrist bands and caps is also thriving as majority of schools arrange ceremonies to commemorate Aug 14 where decorative material is used.
Flag makers said that traders and individual stall-owners of Karachi, Quetta, some parts of Balochistan and Punjab have lifted more than 10 million flags so far. The figure is set to rise in the next two days in view of bright sales prospects.
They estimated the countrywide Independence Day sales at around Rs500m to Rs600m despite 15 to 20 per cent increase in prices of flags this year.
Sheikh Nisar Ahmed Parchamwala, who interestingly enough is the owner of VIP Flags, said that “the government this year had boosted the confidence of the people to celebrate the day with tremendous zeal and fervour. Opening of schools has further raised flags demand”.
“Sales are beyond our estimates and flag makers have bagged more orders than their expectations,” he said, adding that high demand had brought big fortunes for many manufacturers in clearing away unsold stocks of last year.
He said many flag makers have already run out of stocks while others are busy meeting rising demand.
