By: Faheem Khan
If you’re a fan of thrift store shopping (Landa Bazaar shopping) or love a good bargain, you might want to consider heading to Pakistan’s Landa Bazaar this year. Traditionally, the clothes found at the landa bazar are hand-me-downs donated to charities in countries like the US, Australia, and Japan. These clothes are then sold in bulk at practically nothing, making their way to third-world countries like Pakistan.
This year, however, things are a little different. Due to a continuing forex crisis in the country, the government has set a 300% import duty on these clothes, making them too expensive to export to neighboring countries like Iran and Afghanistan. As a result, foreign merchants won’t be picking up these clothes, meaning they will be of better quality and more in quantity at the landa this year.
While this is good news for quality seekers, it also means that the clothes are bound to get more expensive and add to inflationary trends in the country. Nonetheless, the Landa Bazaar is still a great destination for those looking for unique pieces of clothing at affordable prices. So why not take advantage of this opportunity and head to the landa this year?
This year, importers in Pakistan are concerned about the increased import duty of 300% that has been imposed, which is expected to increase the prices of used items. While the decrease in exports has market experts indicating that a large number of these clothes will enter the market, meaning that even though prices will go up, the quality of the clothes will be better, and people could find practically new clothes at second-hand rates. However, due to the high taxes, hundreds of containers of imported used clothes are remaining at the ports, and many exporters are unable to meet the demand of their foreign customers, affecting the business of shopkeepers as well. On the other hand, Instagram thrift stores could benefit from the situation, as people are increasingly turning to these stores for branded second-hand clothes. The landa market is known for having branded, comfortable, and stylish clothes, and college-going students on a budget have been relying on the landa for decades to keep up with their richer peers. The market is a savior for students, and for many young people, international brands are readily available, and entire wardrobes can be made for dirt cheap.
