Buyers here in provincial capital have thronged to various bazaars and markets, as Eid shopping is picking-up momentum in city with each passing day. Heavy rush of buyers are being witnessed in almost all markets and shopping arcades of the provincial capital that continued till late night. Most of the shopping markets have been artistically decorated and illuminated with colourful lights and buntings to attract buyers especially during night.
Bulk of the shopping centres and fashionable markets have been flooded with domestic and foreign goods as shopkeepers have displayed varieties of ready-made garments, cloths, suits, shoes, cosmetics, eye-catching jewellery and quality three-piece- suits for youth that were rarely seen in the past in the lucrative markets of Peshawar.
According to survey conducted by this scribe on Sunday, most of the ladies and kids love to buy imported 'saree', short-kameez, lehnga, woolens knit-wears, knitted garments and ornaments. These dresses are mostly imported from Dubai, Singapore, China and Thailand as Eid special offers.
Scores of shopping arcades such as Hayatabad shopping mall, Shafi market, Tipu Sultan, Peshawar Trade Centre (PTC), Deans Trade Centre in cantonment, Shaheen Meena bazaar and Karimpura bazaars in city and CT Tower on the University road are stuffed with variety of cloths as buyers are trying to search appropriate item for themselves and for their families to celebrate Eidul Fitr in a befitting manner.
"The fervour of Eid shopping is gradually picking up as majority of buyers are coming for shopping while few will probably visit on Chand Raat," Daud Khan a shopkeeper in Hasnagri told.
"The fervour of Eid shopping is gradually picking up as majority of buyers are coming for shopping while few will probably visit on Chand Raat," Sahar Gul, a shopkeeper in Meena Bazar Peshawar told.
Most of the buyers nowadays just entered his shop, ask about prices and then returned empty handed. The customers who are demanding quality products have to pay more for it, he remarked. "These days, people are taking interest in buying sweets especially of Mardani Peera, Pakora and special Halwas," Muhammad Shahjehan alias Shahjee, owner of Punjabi sweets said.
Customers, however, are not happy with the shooting prices of the imported items like Sohaji Saree, Bezoo woolens, Akthar Jamawar and wallet shaal that are being sold at range prices of about Rs 2000, Rs 1500, Rs 900 and Rs 1400 respectively which are beyond purchasing power of the middle class.
A short kameez was priced at Rs 2000 this year, as it was available on Rs 1500 last year. Similarly, the prices of the ready made garments of the children and girls' are high enough that leaves the middle income group gossiping.
In Jahingirabad area, majority of new shopping arcades are overflow with famous foreign goods to cater the demand of the affluent Eid buyers. "I often go to Dubai for Eid shopping but now majority of my favourite items such as cloth and cosmetics are now available in Peshawar. Therefore, this time I decided not to go abroad for shopping," Engineer Muhammad Fahim who was busy in shopping in CT Tower told.
Similarly, people in large numbers are thronged to bookshops which have been turned into Eid cards stall to buy the best card for their relatives and dear ones. "Selection of Eid card is very Herculean task," said Zeshan Khan, a student of FSc. "I finally select a Eid card for my maternal uncle Khurshid Alam after visiting five Eid card shops today," he said.
The sale of Eid cards replaced by internet and SMS cards as majority of youth and students are now sending their Eid cards either through emails or mobile phones," Abdul Shakoor, a shopkeeper in Qissa Khawani Bazaar said. He said that it is hope that the Eid shopping activities would further gains pace as Eid-ul-Fitr draws nearer.