Pakistan’s biggest thrift store looted by mob on inauguration day with in 30 mins

                       

             

The opening of Dream Bazar in Karachi on Friday was meant to be a grand affair, but it quickly spiralled into chaos. The day that started with the promise of items as low as PKR 50, ended with violence and vandalism.

Promoted aggressively on social media as Pakistan’s first mega thrift store, the event promised unbeatable prices on clothing, accessories, and homeware. As thousands of people gathered outside the mall, management struggled to control the swelling crowd.

When they attempted to close the doors to manage the situation, baton-wielding individuals forcibly broke through the glass entrance, ARY News reported. 

The situation became so dire that city traffic came to a standstill, with visuals showing thousands stranded outside the mall. Eyewitnesses reported extensive damage to the property. Some alleged that there was no police presence, while others said that police were hitting bystanders.

                

                                                 

Amid the vandalism, people made videos of themselves stealing clothes. Another eyewitness said all of this happened within half an hour. They opened at 3pm and by 3:30pm it had been wiped clean.

Reportedly built by a Pakistani-origin man living abroad, the vandalism left the employees devastated.

“We brought this for the benefit of the people of Karachi,” lamented one distraught employee. “But instead of a smooth opening, we faced chaos. Very few investments happen in Karachi, and when they do, this is the result,” he added