Helmet sales in Rawalpindi have surged sharply after the enforcement of new traffic laws, leading to a noticeable jump in prices across the city. The sudden rise in demand has created an active market for both genuine and low quality refurbished helmets, with stalls and pushcarts now visible in many areas.
In the open market, prices currently range from Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 5,000. Helmets sold between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 2,200 are mostly old, repainted units of poor quality that often break within two to three weeks. Better quality helmets are priced between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 5,000.
Shops in Teli Mohalla near Bhabra Bazaar on Murree Road have resumed refurbishing old helmets. Shopkeepers buy broken helmets from scrap dealers for Rs. 50 to Rs. 100, repaint them, add inner padding, and sell them to vendors for around Rs. 1,000.
Vendors then resell them to customers for Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 1,800. These helmets are often marketed as new despite their compromised safety.
District Bar Association President Sardar Manzar Basheer criticized the Rs. 2,000 fine for riding without a helmet. He said riders should be provided a helmet on the spot for the same amount and penalized only if they fail to wear it afterward.
