Life in Islamabad was back to its normal hustle and bustle on Monday when most of the people returned from their hometowns after Eidula Azha holidays. Though the government had announced only three official Eid holidays (from Monday November 7 to Wednesday November 9), in addition to the regular weekly holidays on Saturday and Sunday, the city life could not returned to normalcy until Sunday evening. On Monday morning, however, the routine life began as usual with people rushing to their workplaces and the students to their schools and colleges. Despite the routine life witnessed on Monday, activities at workplaces and educational institutions could not resume fully yesterday. Most of the government employees were back to their duties after enjoyed at least nine holidays and on Monday, normalcy returned at the Federal Secretariat, some of the educational institutions and business centres with the beginning of the new week.
The attendance in public-private sector organisations and academic institutions remained almost cent percent. The shopping centres and shops in almost all the city sectors resumed their business activities as usual. The government and private offices, business centers, small and large enterprises, corporations, banks, shops, medical centers and utility service centers witnessed a significant rush of clients during working hours. Public transport also returned to roads on all the routes of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and adjoining areas including Airport Road, Bhara Kahu, Humak Town, Kahuta, Rawat and Alipur Farash.
“Earlier traffic, especially the public transport, on these routes remained rather thin or even off the roads during and right after Eid holidays, exposing the commuters to exploitation at the hands of cabbies,” Ali Hassan, a government official said. However, most of the government employees from far-flung areas of Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP and southern Punjab are yet to reach the capital.
“Actually, these employees travel with their families to celebrate Eid in their hometowns and villages. Obviously, it is difficult for them to return soon after holidays,” Ahmed Raza, a human resource manager at a semi-government corporation, told this scribe.
The non-availability of transport was one of the major problems for those returning to the capital from far flung areas and we are hoping that all the workers would be back to their duties in a day or two,” he added.
Although the Eid’s feast days are over, the spirit and happiness are still being witnessed with people hugging their colleagues and friends after their return to the city. The meat of sacrificial animals and sweets were continued to be distributed and special lunch gatherings were also held. “We meet each other daily but it was a little different today. There is strange warmth in feelings and a sense of pleasure. May God keep our emotions of love and happiness like this forever,” Muhammad Haider, a gatekeeper of a newspaper office, said on his first day on duty after Eid holidays.
