“Commerce is Back to Life in Boulton Market”

Karachi: Bargaining the prices of toys in his narrow shop in Boulton Market, Nauman is asking his 5 salesmen to not stand idle and attend other customers.

“We can’t afford to leave any customer unattended during peak hours of the day,” he says.

This is just another day of business for Nauman, 32, who owns and runs a wholesale and retail Toys business under the name of Mushtaq Toy Land on Marriot road of Boulton Market.

He sells different Toys to both wholesalers and retail customers which are priced in the range of Rs. 120 to Rs. 4,500.

Situated in Saddar, busy commercial area of Karachi, Boultan Market is approximately 200 years old and caters to demand of wide range of products.

Boulton Market became the center of attention in national media when shops in the market were burnt to ashes in December 2009 in aftermath of a deadly blast targeting an Ashura procession.

 “That was a horrible incident and [Boulton] Market was closed down for 10 days and we suffered losses of hundreds of thousands of rupees,” Nauman remembers the ordeal.

There was a widely believed allegation that Boulton market was burnt down due to extortion dispute.

Thanks to the ongoing Ranger’s led operation in Karachi, acts of demanding extortion have almost finished in Boulton market

Thanks to the ongoing Ranger’s led operation in Karachi, acts of demanding extortion have almost finished in Boulton market, claims Nauman.

“Commerce is back to life in Boulton Market and we thank government authorities for that,” he added.

Now the businessmen like Nauman in Boulton Market only pay the government-sanctioned fees to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) for maintenance of the market.

The only thing which affects the business in Boulton market these days is the seasonal variation in the demand.

Sales spike during Eid season and remain average rest of the year for products sold by Nauman. He also adds that sales are good on Monday and Friday and average on rest of working days of the week.

Only thing which affects the business in Boulton market these days is the seasonal variation in the demand

“I purchase goods for my shop from him [Nauman] because he is a trusted dealer,” said Hamaad Siddique, 43, a vendor of Toys in outskirts of Karachi.

Distance is an issue but quality and price is good and that’s why Mr. Siddique travels to Boulton Market to purchase Goods for his business.