Shoppers were seen thronging traditional bazaars and the malls on the last day of Ramazan to complete their shopping for Eidul Fitr festival to be celebrated today.
Friday witnessed climax of unprecedented month-long Eid-related economic activity. Beside garments, food is an essential part of the celebrations and shopping for the ingredients of various dishes top the list. Temporary stalls in the city have had to replenish their stock several times in the past two weeks.
"It is considered auspicious to begin the Eid day with something sweet such as sewian vermicelli that is a popular ingredient to make sweet dishes such as sheer khurma and milk sewian," said Ahmed who has been witnessing brisk sales in Gulshan Area.
Arshad who owns a shop in Saddar said that several meat-based dishes are prepared on Eid but biryani remains matchless. "People start preparing for the feast at least a week in advance," he noted.
Local traders have noted an upsurge in business especially from the penultimate week of Ramazan when the Eid shopping gains momentum.
The prices of Eid varieties of readymade garments at Dolmen Mall have gone considerably up and a ladies kameez (shirt) cost more than Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000 without shalwar and dupatta. On the other hand, shalwar-kameez and dupatta sets for women at Saima Mall cost Rs 2500 to Rs 15,000 depending on fancy work on the garments.
While many glittering and sprawling shopping malls have been built in various parts of the city in the last few years, the area around Tariq Road and newly-built Lucky One remain the hot favourite for Eid shopping.
Almost all the families buy new clothes, footwear and bangles for the occasion. What makes these markets so special is the fact that they cater to all sections of society.