Flowers, not cards, steal the Valentine's Day show in Pakistan this year

Islamabad, Feb 14 (ANI): As people celebrate Valentine's Day in Islamabad, sales of flowers is reaching heights, while owners of card shops are seeing a major decline in sales.

According to recently revealed figures, the demand for fresh flower baskets and bouquets went up by 35 percent as compared to last year, as those bitten by the love bug have been dishing out on the prettiest flowers for their loved ones.

And it is believed that the boost in sales is because 55 percent of the population comprises of people aged between 16 to 30 years.

Traders of fresh flower bouquets, bunches and baskets in Clifton, North Nazimabad, Tariq Road, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and old city areas have reported an increase of around 25 to 35 percent for different type of items.

The retailers said that they displayed flowers till late night on February 13 before taking them off late at night on February 14.

And during that period, they claimed to earn 30 percent more revenue.

"It is our mastery that shapes the flower bouquets into numerous designs and sizes. We wrap the products in fine cellophane paper using ribbons and bows," the Daily News quoted Dilawer Khan, owner of Flowers and Flowers near Khayaban-e-Roomi, Clifton, as saying.

On the other hand, the owners of card shops have not seen the expected boost in sales.

The trade of paper cards has been outshone by the trend of sending and receiving e-cards via the Internet.

Razzaq A Shamsi, a wholesaler of cards at Pakistan Chowk, said that the average sale of paper cards dropped by 70 percent.

Shamsi added that another problem faced by the card selling business this year was the higher import cost and duty on paper and cardboard, due to which cards had become much more expensive and out of the common man's reach.

"Due to high prices of paper, around a dozen printers in Karachi that used to print cards, did not take up the job this year," he said. (ANI)