As 14th August approaching fast, Karachiites are preparing to celebrate 71st anniversary of Independence Day with great enthusiasm and national passion, like other compatriots. Preparations go in full swing across the city where people are seen buying, green-white buntings, stickers, armbands, headbands, bangles, national flags, images of father of the nation Mohammad Ali Jinnah, etc.
The Paper Market at Pakistan Chowk is the biggest wholesale market for decoration items and a very popular "Jhanda galee" (flag street) where the vendors have set up their stalls to sell colorful buntings, national flags, banners, T-shirts, hats, bangles, badges, wrist bands and it's all green or green plus white. In particular, children and youth are evincing interest in these stuffs.
Multitudes of people with children are seen at roadside stalls that have turned into major shopping points these days.
The vendors have decorated their stalls to attract attention of customers especially of children to sell more flags, banners, stickers, badges and pictures of national heroes.
The most common way by Pakistanis including Karachiites is to mark celebrations is to hoist national flags on rooftops of houses, illuminating buildings and streets and decorating lanes with buntings.
Large number of private cars, motorcycles, three-wheel motor rickshaw, donkey carts, buses, trucks can bee seen decorated with Pakistan's green and white national flag.
The businesses of these items at all big stores as well as by roadside vendors remain on peak which shows the zeal of people belonging to all ages, a shopkeeper remarked.
Some of the shopkeepers said that demand from upcountry is huge since Karachi is the major market of such products. Wholesalers of flags and skiers said that every year a large number of shopkeepers from interior of Sindh come to the provincial capital city for purchasing flags, badges and streamers.
Wholesalers said this is the peak time of sales of these items and this year they see more business as compared to last year due to huge demand from upcountry.
On the other hand, local sale of flags, badges and children-suits also remains high and rush is witnessed at such stalls.
National songs are in the air, which gives the message that the entire nation is united.
In addition to government buildings, many people are preparing to hoist national flag at other important buildings to mark Independence Day celebrations in a befitting manner.
The national flags remain available in various sizes. It cost between Rs 345 to Rs 480 for a 2 feet by 3 feet flag to Rs 1,800 to Rs 3000 for a 6 feet by 9 feet one. The rise in the sales of national flag is witnessed since the beginning of August, every year.
Karachiites are of the view that Pakistan is in their blood. They say motherland Pakistan is their DNA.