Home is where Eid is

ISLAMABAD: As Eid approaches, people of the twin cities have started leaving for their respective hometowns in order to celebrate the occasion with their families. The mass exodus of people out of the city continued on Wednesday as many thronged bus and railway stations.

Every year, 3.5 million people travel on Eid from special trains throughout the country. This year, railways announced five special trains to provide for the increased number of passengers. First five of these left for Peshawar from Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

Officials from district administration Islamabad said that some 10, 000 to 15, 000 people travel by buses from Islamabad and Rawalpindi to other cities on the occasion of Eid.

Faizabad and Pirwadhai bus stops witnessed a huge number of passengers, some whom had come to reserve seats in advance. A similar trend was observed at Karachi Company and Soan bus stops.

Hassan Raza, who was leaving for Sargodha to celebrate Eid with his family, said “It is a special festival that is incomplet without family.” Mohsin Khan, a government employee, said, “The whole year I am busy with work and do not get to visit my hometown. These few days are very special for me.”

“Islamabad presents a gloomy look on Eid, as most of us go back to our villages,” he added, while waiting for a bus at the Pirwadhai bus station.

The federal government has announced Eid holidays from Friday to Monday.

Rana Jahangir, who works for RF Transporters, said, “There is a huge increase in the number of passengers these days. We have arranged special buses to accommodate all of these people.”

“We have also not increased the fares, which is in tandem with the demands put forth by the commuters,” he claimed.

Jahangir said that thousands of people were leaving the city and transport providers were trying their best to facilitate their travel.

Majority of the inhabitants of the federal capital are from Punjab. Then there is a substantial population from other parts of the country which include Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir along with Sindh and Balochistan. Additional reporting by Umer Nangiana

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2010.