Global meltdown has taken its toll on the arrival of Non Resident of Indians (NRI) to Punjab as the season witnessed a lesser number of NRIs visiting their native state than previous years. A chain of expensive retail showrooms of the city,which are very popular among Punjabi NRIs,is still waiting for their special customers who used throng these shops at this point of time. There are over 150 villages situated around Phagwara,where a large number of families have their members in abroad. Shopkeepers of Phagwara feel proud of being neighbour of these villages. But in these days,due to global economic recession,number of NRIs visiting to the city,dwindled to great extent bringing down the sale,Ashok Kultham,owner of Kultham Store,claimed. Kultham said his store is very popular among the NRIs who visit it in large number for bridal collection during wedding season. We are facing acute shortage of NRI customer in these days which has totally disturbed our smoothed business he said adding that Phagwara has around 200 stores out of which there were 20 big stores which often used to did the daily business worth Rs one crore in the Month of November and February. Traders of Jalandhar claimed that local sale was very mild in these days and the whole market was dependent upon NRIs only. The recession has also effected the wedding season as majority of the palace owners claimed of less bookings due to lesser number of NRI's arrival.
