Low sales annoy shopkeepers at Balkh women-only market

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Shopkeepers are pleased with the establishment of the women’s special bazaar “Khadijatul Kubra” in northern Balkh province, but they complain about lack of sales.

The female shopkeepers also want other women to buy their necessary items from them and also to use local products.

Mehboba, one of the shop owners in the market, said she was happy about the market’s establishment as she was supporting her family with her business.

Saliha Ghulami, who owns a carpet weaving shop in the market, complained she had been unable to sell a single carpet since the market’s establishment a long time ago.

Fatima Sadat, another shop owner, said she sold various items needed by women, but there was no buyer.

She lamented most women used foreign goods and clothes and urged them to use domestic products to support the local industry.

Buyers are also happy that a market exclusively for women has been established in the city.

Nafisa, who was visiting the women’s special market to buy goods, said she was happy with the market’s establishment and called on the government to make efforts at developing the market.

Tamana, another buyer, said she considered the market important for women’s well-being. She said women could comfortably buy goods they needed from female sellers.

Pukhtana Afghan, in charge of the market, said 120 shops were operational in the bazaar and a total of 700 women worked there.

Meanwhile, government officials assure of efforts to develop the market and support shopkeepers.

Amir Mohammad Muttaqi, director of trade and industry, said the Khadijatul Kubra Bazaar was an organized market that it considered all conditions of the Vice and Virtue Department.

He said efforts were being made to develop the market and they would support the shopkeepers in different ways.

All sellers and buyers in the market are women and all items women need are found in the market.

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