Despite crowded markets and high expectations, Karachi’s traders have expressed disappointment over sluggish sales during the Eid ul Fitr 2025 shopping season.
According to All Karachi Traders Union President Atiq Mir, sales this year fell 25 to 30 percent compared to the previous year. While the availability of goods surged by 40 to 50 percent, only Rs. 15 billion worth of products were sold, leaving a huge stockpile of unsold inventory.
“At least 60 to 70 percent of the Eid season goods remain unsold in warehouses,” said Atiq Mir, recalling that 2015 was the peak year for Karachi’s Eid shopping, when sales reached Rs. 70 billion.
He lamented that Karachi’s Eid sales potential stands at Rs. 100 billion, yet in the past decade, sales have nosedived from Rs. 70 billion to just Rs. 15 billion. The decline, he said, stems from shrinking purchasing power, limiting consumer spending on clothing, shoes, artificial jewelry, and budget-friendly decorative items.
Over 200 markets across Karachi had anticipated the usual Eid shopping frenzy, but traders were left disappointed as economic uncertainty dampened consumer enthusiasm.