Mass exodus from Capital for Eidul Fitr

Like every year ahead of Eid, the federal capital gives a desolate look, as a large number of people settled here for job or education purposes leave for their ancestral cities and hometowns to celebrate the auspicious occasion with their near and dear ones.

The federal capital has witnessed a mass exodus as people bid goodbye to the metropolitan as soon as Eid holidays are announced.

The exodus started on Friday, but reached its climax on Sunday.

It was witnessed that the city roads, business points, bazaars and shopping malls were not messy.

Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Munibur Rehman has reportedly said that moon sighting committee in Pakistan will meet on Tuesday, July 5, as the Director General of Pakistan Meteorological Department has already announced that Eid al-Fitr 2016 in Pakistan is likely to fall on July 6.

That is why, the Interior Ministry announced four public holidays, from July 5 to July 8, on the account of Eidul Fitr.

But in reality, government employees would practically enjoy nine-day-long holidays on Eidul Fitr as there is just one working day prior to July 5, Monday falling on July 4. July 2 and July 3 are Saturday and Sunday, respectively, weekly public holidays. July 9 and July 10 are also falling on Saturday and Sunday, so practically most public sector offices would remain closed for nine days.

With the official announcement of four Eid holidays starting from July 5, 2016 to July 8, a majority of people were witnessed heading towards their native cities and villages on Friday.

This happens quite often especially on Eids, as a majority of the population residing in capital belongs to the far flung areas of the country and settled here for job or education purposes and most of them prefer to celebrate the grand festivities of Eid with their relatives.

That is the reason the federal capital almost gives a deserted look during such special festivities. The week-long holidays have provided an opportunity not only to the people belonging to the other districts of the country, but also to the Islamabadities to spend good time with their kith and kins and friends.

Railway station, general bus stand at Pirwadai, Karachi company, Faizabad and other bus terminals observed tens of thousands of people could been moving out of the city.

It is one of at least two occasions each year when this town witnesses a mass exodus bringing life in the federal capital to a virtual halt for quite a few days, as everybody from government officials to businessmen and from bureaucrats to politicians is heading to their hometowns. Islamabad, that has been their base all through the year, wears a deserted look for the few days of Eid.

This would leave few people, staying back to celebrate a festival often terms “boring”, for there is hardly a thing to do except visiting close relatives.

Many of the mini restaurants and shops have been closed, while the public transport plying in the capital was also very thin during the Eid holidays, providing an opportunity to cab drivers to charge high fares from the people visiting different recreational spots in the city, which further adds woes to the masses.