Landa Bazar Cloth Prices Skyrocket After Massive New Tax

The trader community has strongly opposed the government’s recent decision to impose a Rs. 200 per kilogram tax on the import of used clothing, warning that the move has sharply increased prices in local markets. According to traders, the tax has led to a Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500 rise in the prices of warm clothes at Landa Bazaar, making affordable winter wear harder to find for low-income and middle-class families. They said that even before the tax, prices of imported used garments were higher this year, but they were trying to keep them within reach of consumers. Traders added that the new duty has increased their import costs, forcing them to invest more capital in shipments. They noted that the overall cost of imported goods at the container level has surged to the point that many items are now beyond the purchasing power of the average buyer. Business representatives urged the government to reconsider and reduce the newly imposed tax, saying a relief measure is essential to help poor and middle-income citizens purchase affordable winter clothing during the cold months ahead.