Cash strapped Pakistanis dump traditional New Year cards for cheap SMSs

Islamabad, December 29 (ANI): The sales of New Year cards have tumbled down considerably as more and more people now prefer sending cheaper SMS to wish their family and friends.

Shopkeepers also blamed the Internet for the decline during special occasions since it was far more pocket friendly.

While greeting cards cost buyers between Rs. 20 and Rs. 100, an SMS was priced around Re one, and even further cheap if sent to the same network user.

Waqar Ahmad, owner of a bookshop in F-8/3, revealed that people, especially youth, were responsible for the turn, reports the Daily Times.

Asif Zaheer, a Commercial Market shopkeeper, also said that despite having put heaps of colourful Eid, Xmas and New Year cards on display, there were not very many buyers.

Ahmad Nadeem, a resident of I-8/4, however, accorded the reason to the high prices labelled on the cards. (ANI)