The long queues to getting uniforms

Long queues witnessed outside uniform stores in the federal capital as soon as Eidul Fitr holidays end.


Sehrish Wasif September 16, 2010

ISLAMABAD: If you are the parent of a school-going child without a uniform in Islamabad, you are in for a long wait outside the uniform shops.

Long queues have been witnessed outside major uniform stores in the federal capital as soon as Eidul Fitr holidays ended.

Mrs Arif Shareef, who had already gotten shoes and books for her children, was having a hard time getting into a uniform store in Aabpara on Wednesday afternoon because of the rush.

“This is my third attempt since morning. My children cannot go to school unless they have proper uniforms,” she said.

Another parent Jameel Ahmad had a similar story to tell. “I came back from my village on the third day of Eid and have still not been able to get a uniform for my children [due to the rush],” he said.

Tailors, overwhelmed by the large number of people outside their shops, blamed parents for the inconvenience. “I never understand why they (parents) do not buy uniforms a month before the opening of schools and colleges,” said Amir Malik, who owns a well-known uniform shop in the Aabpara Market.

Muhammad Adil, a salesperson at a uniform shop in the Karachi Company area in Sector G-9, said the rush was a routine affair every year. However, he added, the rush this year was particularly intense because people had been busy in Eid shopping during Ramazan.

He said: “They say we do not attend to them. Howcan we possibly attend hundreds of customers at once?”

Schools and colleges have also refused to shoulder any responsibility for the situation.

Prof Zahid Ali Shah, president of the Federal Government College Teachers Association, said only the parents were to be blamed for not buying uniforms on time.

“They should have bought the uniforms two to three months before the start of the new session,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2010.

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