Places in Pakistan: Shoe sellet at Gakuch

Second-hand shoes seller, Ghakuch
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Date: 21st Sep, 2011

Location: 36°10′N, 73°45′E.

Next day was a bright day at Gakuch. Also pronounced as Ghakuch. Yesterday, we had returned from Khalti lake for our night stay at Gakuch hotel. The Pathan driver also stayed over night alongwith us - in the next room. Even Hafizullah was there. Adeel was sure that Hafizullah was from the agency. What agency we both could not make out.

This was the Pathan second hand shoe seller selling all major brands. I asked him from where he got all these. He told me that it was from Karachi that he purchased in bulk. It surprised me a lot. Whereas in Karachi you can purchase shoes for Rs.800 or more, he was selling them for Rs.200-300. I was just trying to imagine the profit margins of Karachi's Pathans!

Adeel Ather, from PSO, and our travelling partner on this leg of journey, bought a pair of good-looking shoes from him.

Baluchistan Diary - Day 2 / Liaqat Bazaar

Liaqat Bazaar, Quetta
Originally uploaded by Ameer Hamza

Dr. Bano Road is part of Liaqat Bazaar, Quetta. It has lots of small gallis and bazaars and sellers from all over Central Asian region. We have Pashtuns from across the border, and we have Tajiks and Uzbeks. And Hazaras as well. And we have lots of cheap dry fruits coming in from Afghanistan.

Here at Liaqat Bazaar, I bought kala kishmesh for Rs.100 / 0.5 Kg; Green kiahmesh for Rs.160 / 1.0 Kg. I plan to buy Pakistani badaam INSHALLAH. I also intend to buy Khobani and other things as well when I am done with Chaman (3rd June, 2010), Sibi & Mehergarh (4th and 5th June, 2010) and Ziarat (6th June, 2010).

Till then, I will try and consume this wonderful kishmesh from Afghanistan. INSHALLAH.

This expedition is funded by www.pakgateway.com. [This website will go online by the end of this month].