Pakistan’s trader community is voicing strong opposition to the government’s new tax on imported used clothing, warning that the move has triggered a sharp rise in local market prices.
The government recently imposed a Rs. 200 per kilogram tax on used clothing imports, a step that traders say has made winter wear unaffordable for many low-income and middle-class families. Prices of warm clothes at Landa Bazaar have jumped between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,500, leaving both buyers and sellers struggling to adjust.
According to traders, prices were already higher this year due to rising import costs, but they had been trying to keep them affordable for consumers. The new tax, however, has increased their expenses further, forcing them to invest more capital in shipments.
Importers said the total cost of goods at the container level has now surged to a point where many items are beyond the reach of average consumers. They warned that this could significantly reduce sales during the winter season.
Business representatives have urged the government to review and reduce the newly imposed duty. They emphasized that providing relief is essential to help lower and middle-income citizens buy reasonably priced winter clothing in the months ahead.