KARACHI: As Pakistan gears up to celebrate its independence day on Aug. 14, national festivities have generated economic activity worth billions of rupees.
But according to importers and dealers, the country meets 75-80 percent of demand for celebratory merchandise — such as flags, badges, bunting and hats — by importing them from neighboring China.
“Although there’s no official data available, we estimate economic activities spurred by independence day festivities at between 10 billion ($81 million) and 20 billion rupees,” Atiq Mir, chairman of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad — an umbrella organization of nearly 100 market associations in the port city of Karachi — told Arab News on Sunday.
Importer Abdullah Abdul Habib told Arab News: “This year, demand for stuff required for independence day celebrations has increased by 30-40 percent.”
He said: “The growing demand has been met by importing the required products from China since the local industry is unable to meet such high demand.”
He added: “The variety of products and the ability to supply them are among the main reasons why Chinese goods are in such great demand.”
He said: “The number of importers has increased, not only in Karachi but also in Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar.”
As independence day approaches, the number of temporary vending stalls has increased. “I run a paper business nearby, but due to the high profit margin I’ve set up this stall at the main market,” said Sarfraz, a vendor at the famous Pakistan Chowk.
Purchases of clothes in green and white, Pakistan’s national colors, are surging, and websites are offering “freedom discounts.”
Pakistan came into existence on Aug. 14, 1947, with the partition of the Indian subcontinent, which had been a British colony since 1849.
Pakistan independence celebrations cause surge in economic activity
Pakistan independence celebrations cause surge in economic activity
- Pakistan meets 75-80 percent of demand for celebratory merchandise — such as flags, badges, bunting and hats — by importing them from neighboring China
- Online shopping websites are also offering incentive packages and special ‘freedom discounts’ to internet users
Pakistan planning minister to attend Bangladesh PM oath-taking ceremony tomorrow
- New members of Bangladesh’s federal cabinet will be sworn in on Tuesday in Dhaka
- Pakistan, Bangladesh have moved closer amid recent thaw in relations between the two
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bangladesh government this week, foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed on Monday.
Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a landslide victory in the elections on Thursday, the first since a deadly 2024 uprising ousted the iron-fisted rule of former premier Sheikh Hasina. The BNP won at least 209 seats out of the 299 contested, according to results released by Bangladesh’s Election Commission on Friday, paving the way for Rahman to become the country’s next prime minister.
According to Rahman’s office, the swearing-in ceremony will take place at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building in Dhaka at 4:00pm on Tuesday. Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin is expected to administer oath to members of the new cabinet. The prime minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from India will attend the event along with other foreign dignitaries.
“Yes, Ahsan Iqbal will represent Pakistan there,” Andrabi told Arab News when asked whether the planning minister will attend the ceremony.
Iqbal will represent Pakistan as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in Austria on an official visit, the first by a Pakistani prime minister in 30 years to the country, to review bilateral trade, investment and economic ties.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have improved bilateral ties amid a recent thaw in relations. Pakistan and Bangladesh were part of the same country until Bangladesh’s secession following a bloody civil war in 1971, an event that long cast a shadow over bilateral ties.
Both countries have moved closer since August 2024, following the ouster of Hasina who was considered an India ally. While Pakistan-Bangladesh ties warm up, relations between Dhaka and New Delhi remain strained over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina.
The success of BNP chief Rahman, 60, marks a remarkable turnaround for a man who only returned to Bangladesh in December 2025 after 17 years in exile in Britain, far from Dhaka’s political storms.
Rahman is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman. He returned to Bangladesh late last year after nearly two decades of self-imposed exile in the UK, and assumed BNP’s leadership days later, following his mother’s death from a prolonged illness.
In an interview with Arab News last week, the 60-year-old pledged to pursue accountability for the former leadership and meet the political and economic expectations of the youth movement that brought about the change.
Additional input from AFP
