Shopping frenzy hits fever pitch

KARACHI:

Shopping hit fever pitch in the first post-Covid Eid after two years.

There is a huge rush of people in the markets and malls across the city generating billions of rupees worth of economic activity for every section of society. Scores of families thronged to the markets for last minute buying of dresses, shoes, accessories particularly henna and bangles.

"What is Eid without henna and bangles," a street vendor, Saleem Ahmed, encroaching on the footpath of Tariq Road said talking to The Express Tribune during a survey. Selling traditional glass bangles and cone mehndi, Ahmed like thousands of seasonal street vendors were hoping to make enough earning to buy new clothes and shoes for their children. Considered an integral accessory of Eidul Fitr, a large number of henna and bangle stalls are attracting women buyers.

The glass bangles are specifically worn on Eid. Buying matching dress bangles is an essential part of Eid preparations for all the women especially young girls and they consider their eid incomplete without wearing bangles. Whatever the value or tradition, matching color bangles are a passion of women and they let no opportunity to adorn their arms with wearing matching bangles on every special occasions, said a vendor.

Usually, buyers are seen hunting for the right sole to fit their feet on the festive occasion, an exhausted salesman at a shoe store said admitting that it is nearly impossible for women to find the perfect match for their feet in the first try. Meanwhile, stalls selling clothes, shoes, and accessories have encroached upon the footpaths and even a lane of the road in many shopping areas.

Though people get a bargain from these stalls, others believe that these are a source of traffic jam. Police and authorities, however, turn a blind eye to people making a quick buck in the season. "At least they are not robbing, looting or snatching or selling drugs.

They are trying to make a living by hard work," a police officer in a mobile said when asked about the encroachment in lanes around shopping malls on DHA Phase I.

Traffic jams mar shopping joy

The festive mood of shopping has its flipside too - traffic jams. As Eidul Fitr approached, a large number of citizens flocked to the city's busy shopping centers for shopping.

Due to this, the flow of traffic in many parts of the city has been severely affected. Citizens are facing the worst traffic jams due to poor strategy of traffic police. Commercial areas of the city like Hyderi Market, Clifton, Zamzama Street, Bahadurabad, Millennium Mall, Buffer Zone, Erum Shopping Emporium and other areas also witnessed severe traffic jams. On this occasion, the shopping hub of Tariq Road and it adjoining areas are witnessing worst traffic jams leaving citizens who come for shopping sweating in cars. Unable to implement a traffic management plan, traffic police were left with only one option.

Lift away wrongly parked vehicles - motorcycles come first, small cars and sedans later, while the SUVs with tinted glasses remain untouchable. Many people told the The Express Tribune that they came for shopping but were left searching for their cars only to find the vehicle impounded at police checkpost.

The Express Tribune team also saw citizen and traffic police arguing over parking penalties. Citizens alleged that vehicles parked in the parking area on Tariq Road were also being challaned and lifting fees were being demanded.

The traffic flow in the area including Tariq Road was severely affected throughout the day and instead of maintaining the flow of traffic, the traffic police appeared to be busy picking up vehicles in the name of new parking. This suggests that the traffic police have no interest in providing facilities to the citizens who are stuck in the worst traffic jams.

Rush at parlours

Beauticians are clocking overtime as Eid draws closer by hours. Be it men or women, the saloons are overcrowded with clients having hairdo, hair dye, facial, threading, waxing, pedicure, manicure the works, a saloon owner said.

People have to wait for hours to get the opportunity to get a seat, while beauticians and hairdresser turn back patrons ore ask them to come later for the required service.

Most of the major chains of beauty salons have come up with attractive deals and packages for the customers, offering variety of services including facials, skin care, hair styling and party makeup on discounted rates.