Pre-owned clothing, donated in countries such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, is often distributed by charitable organizations.[2] These organizations receive the items at no cost and sell them in bulk, priced per kilogram.[2] Subsequently, the clothing is transported to Pakistan, where it is sorted and sent to markets.[2]
The low-cost, second-hand clothing arriving in Pakistan attracts merchants from countries like Afghanistan, India, and Turkey who purchase these items at a slightly increased price.[2] As a result, Pakistan imports these affordable garments, selects the highest quality products in optimal condition, and exports them in an unusual instance of double-arbitrage.[2]