Thin attendance observed in offices after Eid

Most employees took the opportunity to travel and meet their families on the occasion

RAWALPINDI: Life strutted to normalcy as people of twin cities tried to come out of the holiday mood on Friday after the end of Eidul Azha and Independence Day holidays.

The schools opened up, albeit with a shock for the parents that school van owners have hiked the rates following two revisions of fuel prices during the summer holidays.

The vegetable and fruit wholesale markets also came back to life after days of closure. Prices of greens have started coming down to reasonable levels following the resumption of supplies from wholesale markets to retail shops.

Thin attendance was observed in government and private sector organisations on Friday, the first working day after Eidul Azha holidays. Most people opted for casual leaves for Friday and Saturday to extend their Eid vacations till Sunday as the majority of the capital’s residents went to their native hometowns to celebrate Eid with their loved ones and would be returning on this weekend which resulted in less on-duty staff.

Starting from last Friday, such employees would enjoy nine days break till coming Monday when actually work at government and semi-government organisations would start at a normal pace. However, those who celebrated Eid in the twin cities or resided nearby returned to their offices on Friday.

The government and private offices, business centres, small and large enterprises, corporations, banks, shops, medical centres and utility service centres also witnessed a low number of clients. The government had announced four Eid holidays.

People greeted each other, planned barbeque parties, compared rates of sacrificial animals with last year and lack of butchers' availability etc. A journalist told the media that all his neighbours hailing from the outstations had not returned yet as they visited their native areas once or twice a year so took extra leaves on Eid.

He said life was getting busy day by day and most people could not afford to keep travelling to meet their friends and family so Eid was a cherished time for them. "Eid holidays are a golden time for family reunions and it is wise to take extra leaves on these occasions," he added. Attendance in private academic institutions also remained thin and children shared their Eid experience with their fellows and teachers.

Local transport also remained thin in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad as most of the transporters diverted their vehicles on long routes, and delayed resuming their service in order to spend time with their families.

Yawar Abbas who works in a private company said people actually moved to their hometowns to celebrate Eid. Obviously, it is difficult for them to return quickly after Eid like the residents of adjoining areas. He said the availability of transport would also be one of the major problems for them. "We hope to see all the seats filled at the weekend." Although the declared festival days were over, the spirit and happiness still persisted and people hugged their colleagues and friends warmly during their maiden encounter after Eidul Azha.

With additional input by APP

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2019.