With the sudden panic created by the first 2 cases of Coronavirus in Pakistan, people are rushing to their nearest medical stores in search of the specialised N95 masks, sanitizers and basic disinfecting essentials. But the prices had everyone appalled as they were being sold on ten times their original price!
Furious at the hike in the prices, people took to Twitter to share their thoughts:
The way prices of hand sanitizers and Masks have increased after the break out of corona shows how morally and ethically corrupt we all are.
— Umer (@GoStudyUmer) February 27, 2020
What a shame!
We may face a disaster from #CoronavirusOutbreak in 🇵🇰 and instead of helping each other businessmen community has stored all the stock in godowns or selling at the price of RS 1300-2000 while actual price of this box is RS 120-150. What a shameful moment!#coronaviruspakistan pic.twitter.com/2xGv8zGBXe
— Mohammed (@ZeeshanChPAK) February 26, 2020
The price hike is insane!
https://twitter.com/RazaAliKhan_/status/1232736190429835265?s=19
Some were calling it majboori pe karoobar:
A box of 180 masks is now being sold for 1900, that's 100 percent increase in price overnight!! Majboori ka karobaar hum karte hain or sara ilzaam hukmarano par.@ImranKhanPTI please regulate these prices or make masks available at utility stores.#CoronavirusOutbreak
— Hammad Akbar (@accountantnxD) February 27, 2020
People were disappointed:
The price of N-95 masks has reportedly shot up by over 300-500% after the first case of corona virus was reported in Karachi.
Yes, this is Islamic Republic of Pakistan for you.
— Anas Tipu (@teepusahab) February 26, 2020
People were sharing how the supply had been halted to increase the demand:
Masks unavailable at medical stores in Karachi, apparently pehlay say hi peechay say supply roki hoye hai. Even in this someone is going to make a killing, whoever they are i hope they get infected first.
— Osama. (@ashaqeens) February 26, 2020
Some were actually disgusted:
People already storing hundreds of face masks to sell them on higher price later. People of this country never seize to disgust me.
— Haroon (@ThisHaroon) February 26, 2020
Some had suggestions as to what should be done:
https://twitter.com/theshabbasi/status/1232963304320053248?s=19
People were very angry!
They are selling 60ml hand sanitizer bottle for 200 rupees each.
BC…. Waise ye 100 ka milta hai. Itni koi gandu qaum haina ye.. theek azaab atay hain!
— HK. (@HammaadKhaann) February 26, 2020
Many shared how it’s not always the government’a fault:
And then we blame our politicians.. we are all equally responsible for whatever is happening rn in this country..we're all corrupt !!! https://t.co/3kH1kCKjWX
— Maha 🇵🇰 (@MahaRasheed96) February 27, 2020
Someone from the biosafety saw industry shared what the reason for the hike in prices:
I work in a bio safety level 3 and i want you to know that there is shortage of masks because we are importing masks from america instead of china which costs 700 per pack(used to be 140 per pack) nothing to do w blockage of supply stop praying for people getting infection. https://t.co/blnu8ZGl8I
— Shorish🇵🇸 (@dilnapaak) February 27, 2020
Shareef woh hai jisko mouqa nai mila:
corrupt sirf woh nahe hai idhar jisko mouqa na mila hou bas do numberi tou khoon main hai https://t.co/05X0Q6DQgH
— Ali (@Aleyfarooq) February 27, 2020
People were expecting a hike in the prices of kafan next:
https://twitter.com/Bunnyyy145/status/1232958477229838337?s=19
People were sharing the reasons for shortage:
Reportedly surgical masks were exported to China in huge quantity. Even during gas leak situation last week in Karachi there was a shortage of mask.
Rs.80 pack is selling at Rs. 480.
400% profit aur phir hum baat kartay hain insaniyat ki. 🤷♂️#coronaviruspakistan https://t.co/2rj3ah3ui4
— Malik. (@NavazMalik) February 27, 2020
Prices for even the surgical masks went up:
https://twitter.com/SaysSulehri/status/1232872006489497602?s=19
Some suggested that the hoarders be punished:
https://twitter.com/alkeimist/status/1232962427320442881?s=19
People were scared of what’s to come:
https://twitter.com/tamatarpaste/status/1232752660467666946?s=19
Shots were fired!
https://twitter.com/amkaakash/status/1232933301117124608?s=19
https://twitter.com/WajahatSays/status/1232981390230159366?s=19
Some shared how this was now a global panic!
It’s now a global panic. Tried to order a few via amazon and many brands are unavailable while others are super-expensive! https://t.co/MwCjlL6NSR
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) February 27, 2020
Baat toh sach hai:
باقی دنیا ویکسینیشن بنانے میں مصروف اور ہم پیسے بنائیں گے اور پھر سب کچھ یہودیوں پہ ڈال کے سو جائیں گے۔ https://t.co/xQSXb16Zuu
— Bakht Cheema (@Bakhtcheema14) February 27, 2020
People were praying for hidayat:
https://twitter.com/ch_arqamm/status/1232975568775327745?s=19
Okay, we wouldn’t recommend that:
https://twitter.com/iammohsinmkhan/status/1232974974799011840?s=19
What do you think about the sudden hike? Let us know in the comments below!