Lahores Paan Mandi, shoppers mini India

Paan Mandi, an alley market in Anarkali Bazaar, offers a glimpse of an Indian bazaar in Lahore and attracts large number of shoppers for selling good quality Indian products.

Lahore, Aug 25 : Paan Mandi, an alley market in Anarkali Bazaar, offers a glimpse of an Indian bazaar in Lahore and attracts large number of shoppers for selling good quality Indian products.

It is also known as 'Mini India', and the bazaar is well known for its Indian products. An interesting fact about Paan Mandi is that almost all the shopkeepers there migrated from India and set up their businesses after 1947.

Paan Mandi Traders' Association president Nawab Ali Khan, a Delhi-born 70-year-old man, said that he was taking care of the business that his father had started in 1947.

"The business in Paan Mandi has gone through several ups and downs, including the toughest year of 1965, as it is dependent upon the fickle Pakistan-India relations", he said.

Khan said that cable TV had increased Indian products' demand and everyone wanted to use the soap or shampoo that his or her favourite celebrity used across the border.

Indian beauty soaps, shampoos, hair oils, hair-styling jells, fairness creams, hair-removal creams, after-shave lotions, perfumes, beauty lotions and shaving creams are easily available in Paan Mandi and have a great demand in Pakistan, said Haider, a cosmetics shop owner.

Haider said Indian cosmetics were costlier than the Pakistani ones, but better in quality.

Adnan, another shopkeeper, said that small-size Indian beauty soap was priced at Rs 45 while same-sized Pakistani soap costs Rs 17 on average.

But customers insist on buying the former because of its better quality, he added.

Despite being expensive, Vatika shampoo is very popular among customers, said Khurram, another cosmetics seller.

"Indian cosmetics give better results so I don't mind spending a few extra rupees on them", said Saima, a customer. The price difference is due to the currency difference, said a shopkeeper.

Indian artificial jewellery in latest designs can also be easily purchased at reasonable prices from Paan Mandi. Garlands, rings, earrings and bracelets are among the most popular jewellery items, said Sultan, a shopkeeper.

Indian medicines are also available in Paan Mandi. Nawab, a druggist, said that people trusted Indian medicines, which were low-priced as well. Serpina, Herbdax, Mentat, Liv 52 are some highly demanded medicines, he added.

Indian cloth is priced a bit higher than Pakistani cloth but customers prefer the former because of its better quality, said Amir, a cloth merchant.

Saiqa Bhatti, a customer, said she was buying some Indian clothes for her daughter's dowry because they were of good quality.

Paan and supari are special products of Paan Mandi and customers like them a lot, said Saleem, who owns a khokha at Paan Mandi.

Most of the products found in Paan Mandi are smuggled illegally from India, the Daily Times quoted a middleman, as saying.

He said that he had been visiting India for several years to return with Indian products without being caught, and added that the customs and railway officials were involved in smuggling.

ANI