With Eidul Fitr only two weeks away, shopping activity in Rawalpindi is yet to gain momentum amid the pandemic condition. In usual times, the markets at this point would be thronged by people trying to find a place to stand. The coronavirus pandemic, however, has changed everything. The bazaars and markets wear a desolated outlook.
The markets in Rawalpindi including Moti Bazaar, Sixth Road, Commercial Market, Bank Road, Tench Bhatta, Bara Market, Raja Bazaar etc used to experience thousands of people in the markets at this time of the holy month.
The traders are now beginning to worry. They wait for Eidul Fitr all through the year as this is the time that sales skyrocket. A survey of different markets was carried out by The Express Tribune on Tuesday.
Sajda Parveen, who had come for shopping in Moti Bazaar, said the market was still not crowded despite 15 days of Ramazan have passed and Eidul Fitr two weeks away.
She said under normal circumstances, it was difficult to even set foot in Moti Bazaar while its shopkeepers did not have time to dwell on any one customers for long.
Parveen said the same shopkeepers are seen these days standing outside their shops and shouting to attract a small number of customers in the marketplace.
Yasir Butt, the representative of a traders’ body of Moti Bazaar, said Eid shopping was almost negligent due to the Covid-19 situation. He added that the traders used to earn so much in Ramazan that in the remaining months of the year they were happy with negligible sales. The huge profits made during Eid season allowed shopkeepers to make do with negligible sales the rest of the year even selling their wares at no profit to get by.
The shopkeepers are in a quandary as they have acquired their inventory on credit but have no buyers from whom to make a profit. They are concerned about incurring heavy losses if the current shopping trend prevails.
The traders have urged the government to save their livelihood and create an environment so that people turn up for eid shopping while following SOPs to remain safe from the virus.
Eid shopping marred by profiteers
As the federal capital city’s administration has allowed markets to open for limited hours due to SOPs, a large number of retailers in the twin cities are selling readymade clothes, shoe, bangles and other items essential for Eidul Fitr at highly inflated rates.
Shopkeepers are fleecing buyers, who have no choice except complete their Eid shopping at inflated prices as Eid is less than two weeks away and shopping is allowed in limited hours.
People from different age groups while talking to a private news channel demanded that the authority concerned take strong action against profiteers taking undue advantage of the situation.
Hoarders and profiteers are taking advantage of reduced shopping hours and have raised prices especially of children and women essential items ahead of eid, said a customer shopping in the market.
Another customer said: “We are already reeling under the pressure of economic hardship amid coronavirus and now the shopkeepers are over-charging.”
A large number of customers who visited famous outlets in malls for Eid shopping returned home empty-handed because of high prices, said another citizen.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2021.
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