Twin cities citizens decry inflated prices as Eid shopping gains pace
ISLAMABAD
INP
The citizens of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have started visiting markets and bazaars in groups to shop ahead of Eidul Fitr but most of the customers are decrying inflated prices.
A survey revealed that a large number of customers are rushing to various commercial areas of the twin cities to buy clothes, cosmetics, accessories, footwear and other items for Eid as they fear further increase in already high prices during the last days of the holy month of Ramazan.
“We do Eid shopping in time to avoid exorbitant prices at the end of Ramazan but even then things are too expensive, particularly kids’ clothes,” said Shahzad Hassan, a government employee, adding that he got shalwar qameez for Rs 5,000 in Jinnah Super Market.
Shagufta Amanat, another customer, said, “Everyone wants to shop in advance of Eid because prices touch the sky during end of Ramazan,” adding that she had to go from shop to shop and buy stuff at affordable prices.
Shop owners said that response from customers is fabulous, as majority of the people got their salaries at the beginning of the month. “We have been witnessing extraordinary rush for the last few days. People have got their salaries. We have announced sales on various items to attract customers,” said owner of a famous outfit store in Rawalpindi Saddar Bazaar.
It has also been observed that most of the people come out for shopping in evening time after Iftar as it is very difficult to come out for shopping in scorching heat in Ramazan. A lot of rush of people and vehicles is being witnessed on the roads of Rawalpindi since last few days as people throng shopping bazaars in night time along with families.
Especially, Rawalpindi Saddar and Raja Bazaar and its adjacent bazaars remain open for shopper almost all the night.
It should be mentioned here that in other countries prices are lowered before religious festivals like Christmas and Easter but in Pakistan the situation is absolutely opposite because these events are considered an opportunity by the shopkeepers to make money thus prices go up as Eid approaches.
