Shopping picks up pace as salaries released

Markets fill with families as employees begin Eidul Fitr purchases

RAWALPINDI:

With the payment of salaries to employees of government and private institutions from Monday, March 16, Eidul Fitr shopping has gained momentum across Rawalpindi.

Markets, commercial centres and shopping plazas have become lively, and shopkeepers have also expressed happiness over the start of shopping activity.

Families have started visiting markets in large numbers. After receiving their salaries on Monday, many families - including women and children - headed to markets to purchase Eid clothes for children.

For the past ten days, markets remained open until late at night but customers were relatively few. However, after salaries were paid, shopping activity has increased.

With only four days left until Eidul Fitr, crowds in markets are expected to grow steadily each day. Peak shopping is anticipated on Chand Raat.

This year, Chand Raat is expected to fall on two nights - Thursday (29 Ramadan) and Friday (30 Ramadan). Shopkeepers plan to keep their shops open continuously for 33 hours, from 10am until 7am the following morning.

Due to an increase in petroleum prices, garment and shoe prices have risen more than usual this year. Major clothing and footwear chains have experienced lower sales compared with last year due to inflation.

Many retailers have launched "lot sales," offering garments and shoes left unsold from previous seasons at discounts of 25 to 30 percent. As a result, these sale sections have attracted larger crowds.

Instead of large shoe outlets, many citizens have preferred buying from stalls run by Pathan vendors in markets.

At these stalls, children's and women's shoes are selling for Rs1,500 to Rs2,000, while men's shoes are available for Rs2,000 to Rs2,500.

Government employees said that earlier in Ramadan most spending was focused on daily iftar expenses, but now after receiving salaries they have started Eid shopping.

Muhammad Ali and Feroz Hassan said they were not compromising on children's Eid shopping. "Children are insisting on buying two or three suits each, while we adults have settled for just one suit and are opting for cheaper slippers instead of expensive shoes," they said.

They added that monthly expenses still need to be managed after Eid because the next salary will be received after 44 days, on April 30.