Despite of rising inflation in Pakistan, the people are making arrangements to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitar with full religious zeal. Eid shopping is getting momentum in the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad as buyers swarm markets and shopping malls all over the city during the last Ashra of Ramazan without being worried about the early closure of shops. This time the relaxation of the business hours will not only facilitate customers but also help traders to sell out the stock they have booked for Eid. Several local brands have begun displaying their latest Eid editions of dresses, shoes, and other essential accessories to attract buyers and gain maximum profits.

Families come out for shopping soon after iftar and are seen buying shoes, cosmetics, ready-made garments, eye-catching artificial jewellery, multi-coloured bangles, and other items for the upcoming festival of Eid ul Fitr. A colourful variety of stalls have been set up displaying earrings, glittering bangles, embroidered clothes, and jewellery in markets as Aabpara market , Sitara markets, Super market, Jinnah super, Karachi company and F-10 in Islamabad and in different parts of Rawalpindi as Sadar, Committee chowk, Raja Bazar, Commercial Market and Muree road. 

A bangle seller in Aabpara Market said “The number of customers is gradually picking up and hopefully it will go further up as Eid ul fitr approaches." A customer said in Sadar Rawalpindi, "I have completed shopping for my kids and I have bought clothes and matching shoes." Hawkers are also making brisk sales of clothes, footwear, cosmetics, and other goods as these products are generally purchased by low-income people ahead of Eid in Raja Bazar, said another citizen. Several Eid shoppers also complained of overpricing, especially of women's and kids' clothing in the markets of Islamabad.

A ready-made garment shop owner in F-10 markaz said they have a wide variety of clothing to fit people of all ages, especially kids. He said, “These days, kids' related items are in high demand, because every family, whatever its economic position, prefers to buy something for their young ones.” The sale of ready-made garments increased in the last days of Ramazan when garment outlets displayed various ready-made clothes on sale which were attracting mothers, said a shopkeeper. A severe rush of customers was witnessed in shops selling on 25 to 50 per cent discounts, said a female. The low-income people prefer visiting stalls on roadsides and on footpaths because products available on these stalls are less expensive than the other shops, said a motorist.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP