With Eidul Fitr just around the corner, shopping has started to gain momentum in city markets with a large number of people, particularly women and children, flocking to bazaars and malls.
A festive environment was noticed at the busy markets including Saddar, Lalkurti, Commercial Market, Moti Bazaar, Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Raja Bazaar and various other markets of the town.
With less than a week before Eidul Fitr, the residents can be seen thronging shopping malls and other city markets. People are seen rushing to buy dresses and household items. Several local and international brands have begun displaying their latest Eid editions of dresses, shoes, and other essential accessories to attract buyers and gain maximum profits.
The shopkeepers have decorated their shops with colourful lights to attract customers. The shopping frenzy is expected to reach its peak during the next two to three days. Families come out for shopping soon after iftar and can be seen buying shoes, cosmetics, ready-made garments, eye-catching artificial jewellery, multi-coloured bangles and other items for the upcoming festival of Eidul Fitr. Large crowds of women could be seen gathered around the bangles and henna stalls in various areas of the city.
A bangle seller said, "The number of customers is gradually picking up and hopefully it will go further up as Eidul Fitr approaches."
A customer said, "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, said another citizen. Temporary stalls selling ready-made clothes, bangles, earrings and cosmetics have also sprung up throughout the city.
Taking advantage of the shopping rush, some shopkeepers have also started to fleece the shoppers. Several Eid shoppers also complained of overpricing, especially of women's and kids' clothing.
They said that only a few people could afford to complete their shopping as it is difficult to buy clothes, footwear and other accessories during these inflationary times. "The prevailing price-hike is limiting me to be content with buying clothes only for my children," said Amina, a visitor to Chota Bazaar in Saddar.
Sobia, who went to the Commercial Market, said buying bangles and henna was always one of the greatest Eid thrills. However, she complained that the shopkeepers were exploiting the Eid shopping frenzy and overcharging customers.
A shopkeeper at Raja Bazaar said a great number of shoppers were thronging markets and that he was having a good business. Rawalpindi police have increased the security of the bazaars and markets by deploying additional personnel. Meanwhile, special arrangements have also been made by the City Traffic Police to ensure traffic flow.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2024.
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