Election fever leads to spike in sales of election symbolic toys

LAHORE:  With the upcoming elections 2024 drawing near, election-related activities in Lahore have surged, manifesting in a booming market for toys adorned with party symbols. Local traders report that these symbolic toys and accessories are predominantly locally manufactured.

While bats were expected to be the popular choice, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is conspicuously absent from the bat market due to issues securing the symbol. Traders reveal that this year has seen a staggering 200 per cent increase in the prices of toys featuring election symbols compared to the 2018 elections.

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Rana Asghar, a resident of Constituency NA 120 in Lahore and an active PML-N worker, has crafted over 10,000 toys depicting the election symbol of the Muslim League-N. Utilizing both wool and plastic, Asghar procured 5,000 woolen lions and an additional 5,000 plastic counterparts.

These symbolic emblems are not limited to just toys; they find their way onto dashboards and roofs of vehicles, as well as embellishing election offices. Some PML-N candidates have even gone to the extent of creating giant fiber tigers displayed prominently outside their election offices.

Major toy trader Amir Ramin from Shah Alam Market reveals that lion, scales, hockey, clock, and chair symbols are most in demand. While woolen lion prices have surged from Rs 300-500 in 2018 to Rs 500-800, plastic toys are sold between Rs 100 and 300.

Independent candidates are also partaking in the trend, albeit on a smaller scale. The price hike is attributed to the surge in demand spurred by political activism during the election season.

Muhammad Younis, a model-maker, shares that political parties and candidates opt for models of their election symbols during the election, ranging from tigers to bulls, with prices reaching between Rs 125,000 to Rs 500,000.

The significance of the election symbol as a crucial tool for publicity during campaigns is evident. Parties and candidates strive to secure popular and appropriate symbols.

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Kashif Nawab, a political worker of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) from NA-127 constituency, proudly announces the creation of 5,000 large arrows, adorned with the party’s flag. These arrows, painted in PPP colors, serve as a distinctive symbol for the party.

Reportedly, local leaders invest significant sums in crafting large fiber toys of their party’s election symbol, emphasising the impact of these symbols in conveying party allegiance without verbal communication. – INP