Quake-hit Pakistan faces shortage of shrouds

With the killer quake claiming over 40,000 lives, there is an acute shortage of shrouds in many Pakistani cities where people have bought millions of yards to donate for the burial of those killed in the temblor.

Karachi-based philanthropist Rashid Ali, who went to a local market to buy shrouds in bulk, said the cloth was not available in almost all known markets.

Rashid, who had collected money for purchasing shrouds for about 1,000 dead, said a large number of shops which kept shrouds were empty and others, which had limited stocks, were selling at a high price.

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A shopkeeper Irfan was quoted by daily The Nation as saying that there has been acute shortage of shrouds due to massive buying by the donors.

"The sharp rise in the demand for shrouds after the death of thousands of people in earthquake-hit areas has led to the acute shortage," another shopkeeper Mohammed Hanif said.

People were still purchasing hundreds of coffins and shrouds daily to despatch to the affected areas," he added.