As the religious festival of Eid-ul-Fitr is approaching nearer a large number of shoppers have stormed the markets to complete their Eid shopping. Almost every shopping mall and market in twin cities is flooded with the Eid shoppers. Women are taking more interest in shopping for the whole family as they have to adjust their monthly budget.
They start their shopping normally two weeks before Eid, as they have to prepare dresses, buy jewellery and other accessories to make the religious festival colorful with traditional zeal. Now when one or two days are left for buying colorful bangles and henna to add charm and colour to the festival, a large number of women and young girls as well as men have taken to the markets of the twin cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad.
Irfan Ghani a shopkeeper in Aabpara market while talking to Business Recorder said "Some of the costumers are searching economical clothing for their families as due to mounting inflation they are unable to purchase normal or good quality clothes, shoes or other articles. Mehndi and Bangles' sale is not disturbed totally as these articles are being sold at almost last year's prices and are relatively not much expensive. Everybody can afford these items."
Most of the beauty parlors, boutiques, bangles, henna, tailoring and others are doing booming business ahead of Eid, as these are related to preparations for women while very few are for men. "These days do not provide variety of shopping opportunities to buyers but also bring perfect income generating opportunity for stall holders," Murad Ali, a bangles stall holder at Karachi Company market said.
"Any accessory relating to women and garments for children are the most profitable businesses after the holy month of Ramadan," he said. Many costumers complained that the prices of an entire range of Eid as well as other items have gone up drastically. They said that with the arrival of Eid each trader tries to overcharge the masses.
People said, for instance the chicken sellers and butchers have started selling chicken meat, mutton and beef at higher prices. They said that a few days back chicken meat was available at Rs 250 per kg which on Monday has crossed Rs 300 per kg, beef was available at Rs 300 per kg, which on Monday is being sold at Rs 330-350 per kg, mutton was being sold at Rs 500 per kg but on Monday it is being sold at Rs 525-550 per kg.
Sageer Awan a stallholder said that he was a college student and he along with his friend set up a temporary stall to sell bangles, hina and artificial jewellery. He said that in the last week of the Ramadan great rush is seen in the market. The last weeks of Ramadan also witness huge rush at beauty salons for making the women ready to wear boutique dresses.
Exchanging gifts especially bangles and Eid cards is also a tradition mostly followed by young girls but escalating prices of these items have limited the ways of sharing joyful moments. "I bought pink dress and now looking for matching shoes and then I have to buy matching jewellery, hair clips and bangles. I will again come with my family on Chand Raat for henna," a young girl Saira said.
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