Shopping for Eid has picked up momentum in the city’s main markets as Eid-ul-Fitr is drawing near; however, inflation has broken the backbone of lower-income groups.
Colorful Eid stalls have been set up at various points, selling different kinds of cosmetics, earrings, gleaming bangles, embroidered clothes, jewelry and colorful dresses. People from all age groups including women and children are seen busy shopping, which will continue till ‘Chand Raat’.
A large number of makeshift shops have sprung up on pavements in the city. Shopkeepers have raised prices but many have displayed “on Sale” signs to hoodwink customers. Women of all ages have started visiting bazaars and shopping malls after Iftar to buy clothes and shoes, while the sale of bangles is slowly picking up.
This year, during Ramadan, it was observed that middle class and low-salaried employees are not spending lavishly on Iftars, like they used to in previous years. This is generally because of inflation.
Several customers said that due to high prices, many things were beyond their purchasing power and they were compelled to just window shop. The rates of children’s clothing have reached sky high. Shopkeepers said that most customers just come and look around, ask for prices and leave.
Traditional embroidered dresses for women, elaborate frocks for girls, bangles and henna are a must buy for the festive occasion along with kurta-shalwars for men. Customers have to bargain at most shops because shopkeepers demand different prices of the same item.
In some localities, Eid card sellers have set up stalls outside shops to attract customers, but there are very few buyers. The Eid budget varies from family to family depending on their financial and social status.
With the rise in number of consumers, traffic jams in the town’s busy market places and intersections, particularly in front of shopping centers including Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Saddar Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, Raja Bazaar, Lalkurti, Rehmanabad and Sadiqabad Markets, Commercial market and other areas have become routine.
For the traders this is the best time to make money. They are very optimistic as the shoppers’ presence is increasing every day. Meanwhile the police have claimed to make foolproof security arrangements for the protection of people in various shopping centers, markets and public places.
To ensure security of female, lady police have also been deployed in various busy shopping malls at Saddar Bazaar, Raja Bazaar, Moti Bazaar and other busy markets of the city.
According to the police security plan, law enforcers have been deployed in plain clothes in various sensitive areas and close circuit cameras are working in different busy bazaars, parks and other public places.
City traffic police has also finalized a traffic plan to avoid traffic jams and other problems on roads during the Holiday rush.
