There are two main reasons why Karachiites would flock to the southernmost end of the city on the weekends. One is its nocturnal food street by the sea, dubbed Do Darya; the other was a bright and early visit to Karachi’s Itwaar Bazaar, the sprawling flea market where one could shop for groceries and household items as well as hunt for items as far-ranging as vinyl records and designer apparel every Sunday. It was a must-see item on the itineraries of most people visiting from the foreign.
There are two main reasons why Karachiites would flock to the southernmost end of the city on the weekends. One is its nocturnal food street by the sea, dubbed Do Darya; the other was a bright and early visit to Karachi’s Itwaar Bazaar, the sprawling flea market where one could shop for groceries and household items as well as hunt for items as far-ranging as vinyl records and designer apparel every Sunday. It was a must-see item on the itineraries of most people visiting from the foreign.
Once a makeshift market, the Sunday Bazaar acquired the look of a more permanent
fixture in the Karachi landscape with a concrete infrastructure a few years ago. Little did we know that we would be now speaking of it in the past tense.
The Sunday Bazaar was dismantled on Monday after the expiry of its agreement with Defence Housing Authority on December 31, 2014. After a three month grace period, the vendors at Sunday Bazaar have finally, officially, but hopefully not permanently, closed up shop at their Defence Phase 8 location. It is reported that Itwaar Bazaar may find room in another locality.
The reaction to this latest development is a mix of feelings of loss and outrage. Instep asked some celebrities to share their thoughts.
Ali Gul Pir
“Sunday Bazaar is our Fifth Avenue, just a bit more worn out (than the one in New York). Its closing is one issue that both burgers and mailas will stand united against. Let taroos stare, bargain hunters feel good and Pathans say “ek dum original hai”.
Frieha Altaf
“I feel terrible! I’ve been a diehard fan for years. I have my favourite Pathans/Afghans who I shop from. But I do feel it will surface somewhere else soon; it always does. My favourite things were the flea market glasses, old binoculars, decor items and of course the best items I found were vintage handbags.
My ‘60s original Paco Rabanne dress I picked up for PKR 100. I’ll also miss the fresh sugarcane juices and bun kebabs.”
Huma Adnan
“I’m so depressed ever since I’ve heard the news. This was my only refresh button on a Sunday when I wanted to unwind and it was also very close to our house. The best part was taking friends who were visiting. They always loved it. This was the best picture about true Karachi without any filter. I have even taken Ritu Beri once who shopped like crazy and had to borrow a huge duffle bag from me to take the stuff back to Delhi. I hope they restart it since the life of a Karachiite is incomplete without it.”
Rizwan Beyg
“I’m a dedicated Sunday bazaar junkie and have been going every week since it first set up. I’ve seen it evolve from a collection of flapping shamianas to the sprawling concrete market it had now become. It was a source of inspiration to me, a place where I would get my local produce, and spend hours browsing through the used books section to stock up on my reading. The news has left me devastated and I don’t know where I’ll get my Sunday fix from anymore!
I hope the market relocates because it was a source of livelihood and income generation for a lot of small businesses. It’s crucial that the government recognizes that they are an important competent of the economy and lends them a helping held.”
Mohsin Sayeed
“I am sad and angry. You could build a home and run it from all the things available in Sunday Bazaar. In these times, it was a place that generated income and was economical for everyone. We destroy all our tourist attractions. They did it before with the old dhobi ghat for the construction of the Lyari Expressway.
We have no security, no entertainment, nothing, nothing, nothing from the government. If we create something ourselves, they come and tear it down. You know they’ve served notices to about a 100 establishments in Block 4, Clifton, asking them to wrap up their commercial activities in the residential area, even though they’ve been paying their electrical bill at commercial rates for ages!
The government just doesn’t let people be; they don’t want Karachi to settle and insist on keeping it in a state of flux. I demand that the government reinstates it in a more central location!”
