A highly anticipated event turned disastrous on Friday when the opening of Dream Bazar in Karachi spiraled into chaos, leading to violence and vandalism. Thousands of people visited the mall as a result of the thrift store's aggressive social media promotion as Pakistan's first big thrift shop, which offered products for as cheap as PKR 50. But what was supposed to be a magnificent event swiftly descended into chaos and devastation.
Excited shoppers flocked outside the mall early in the day to take advantage of the incredible deals on apparel, accessories, and housewares. However, as the mall managers battled to contain the swarming mob, things rapidly got out of hand. The tension increased despite attempts to control it by shutting the doors, which resulted in violent altercations.
The opening of Dream Bazaar in Karachi Gulistan-e-Johar turned chaotic as baton-wielding individuals stormed the venue, leading to chaos and vandalism, the opening of #DreamBazaar was marketed through social media platforms to attract the public attentions pic.twitter.com/2PujAAJlgx
— Your Senpai x (@Asawermughal92) August 30, 2024
The doors were closed when people with batons forced their way through the glass entryway, causing a generalized mayhem, according to ARY News reports. Thousands of people were left trapped outside the mall as a result of the terrible scenario, which brought traffic in the surrounding neighborhoods to a complete stop. Witnesses stated that the property had significant damage, including shattered windows and stolen goods. While some witnesses said that police were beating bystanders rather than controlling the mob, others said that there was not enough police presence to maintain order.
Dream Bazaar karachi #Dreambazaar#karachi#Pakistanpic.twitter.com/I1UisW0NAD
— Sukhan yousuf (@SukhanYous74795) August 31, 2024
Social media users shared videos of people robbing the store of clothing in the midst of the damage. In less than thirty minutes, according to one eyewitness, the catastrophe began to emerge. The store had opened at 3:00 PM, and by 3:30 PM, nearly all of the stuff had been cleared off the shelves.
Dream Bazar was supposed to be a substantial investment in Karachi, having been allegedly constructed by a guy of Pakistani descent who was residing overseas. The staff members were shocked and appalled by the destruction. A distressed worker bemoaned the state of affairs, saying that although the store was supposed to help the people of Karachi, it was instead met with unheard-of turmoil. He pointed out that investments don't happen very often in Karachi, and when they do, bad things might happen that deter people from trying again.
A Huge Mall #DreamBazar was built by a #Pakistani foreign businessesman in #Karachi, #Pakistan- On it’s inauguration yesterday he offered a special discount for #Pakistani locals but #Pakistani Awam wanted a 100% discount, so the whole Mall was looted#Begger#Looteri kaum pic.twitter.com/8aFDPRpZTK
— UltaPulta TV (@TvUltapulta) September 1, 2024
On social media, the episode also generated a wave of skepticism and condemnation. Many Pakistanis voiced their dissatisfaction with the events; one user on X pointed out that the future of the nation may be better if people were as enthusiastic about fighting for their rights as they were about cheap clothes. The significant economic hardships that the residents of Karachi confront were brought to light by this statement, as the mob's behavior demonstrated their hunger for reasonably priced commodities.
The nation's debt was estimated to have skyrocketed to $254 billion (PKR 71 trillion) as of June 2024 on the same day. These numbers, which the federal government provided to the National Assembly, showed the country's escalating financial problems. Although there were some gains in foreign exchange reserves and the rupee steadied, the public was nevertheless burdened by high energy prices, high housing rentals, and the possibility of growing inflation.