Flood woes: Tents prices spike 100 %

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 30 (Gwadar Pro) - In the backdrop of flood-led havoc that triggered tents’ demand, prices of all kind of tents (waterproof, fabricated and others) have swelled 100 percent.   

The hike in prices of tents has put local philanthropists and NGOs in a dire straits as negative development has overloaded their financial budget allocated for the help of flood victims.  

According to a market survey, waterproof tents that were available at the price between Rs 7,500 and Rs 8,000, now costs between Rs 12,000 to Rs 14,000.   

NGO official Ghulam Nabi said that tent pries witnessed a surge despite knowing they are being bought for charity purpose for flood affectees.

Marketer strategist Zubair Hamdani said that prices had to be ramped up due to scanty supply of raw material to weaving units. “Abrupt demand at such a level was not expected. Traders were also not ready for manufacturing of tents on a massive scale. Untowardness led to increase of prices of tents,” he added.   

Thousands of people in flood-hit areas have lost their houses and now they are in dire need of tents. Considering the grim situation, China has geared up to provide an additional batch of emergency humanitarian assistance, including 25,000 tents.  

Heavy rains and floods have affected 31 districts of Balochistan, 23 districts of Sindh, nine districts of Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and three districts of Punjab.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Chairman Syed Shabir Baiyan said that in the first phase, the Red Crescent Society has provided many tents. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that around 86,000 tents available with Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), have been distributed and the government has placed an order for another 180,000 while a requirement of one million tents has been generated by district administrations that would be fulfilled.

Historic monsoon rains and flooding in Pakistan have affected more than 30 million people over the last few weeks, the country's climate change minister said.  According to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), heavy monsoon rainfall and floods have affected some 2.3 million people in Pakistan since mid-June, destroying at least 95,350 houses and damaging a further 224,100.