Garment Maker Worrying Over Influx Of Illegal Garment

The garment manufacturer of Pakistan particularly the organized sector business have been affected due to the entry of smuggled and under-invoiced fabric, apparel, garments, etc., of Chinese, Indian, Korean and Indonesian origins.

At a time of galloping inflation, arrival of Chinese goods has so far proved a boon for the general public but bane for the local manufacturers who paint a doomsday scenario if the arrival of these goods continues to thrive through illegal channels.

Clothes have never been so cheap. Invasion of Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Malaysian clothes, apparel and garments either through legal or illegal channels, are encouraging consumers to meet their second most pressing demand after food as per their pocket outcome.

"I can now easily buy a quality printed imported georgat, crinkle and crush suit at Rs 200-250 as compared to local suit of Rs 350-500," some woman buyers interviewed at Tariq Road and Saddar area said, maintaining that they are more interested in prices and are not concerned how the material is reaching the market.

Consumers are thrilled by the presence of Chinese children clothes at affordable rates. Shopkeepers say that locally made clothes are costly as compared to Chinese varieties, which offer both unique designs, colour and quality stitching.

Consumers'' shift towards smuggled and under-invoiced fabrics and readymade garments has shocked value-added manufacturers of garments, apparels, garments, knitwear, sweaters, etc., in the organized sector.