Price hike and Eid shopping frenzy

Eidul Fitr is upon us marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan. Everyone is out there raiding shops looking for the perfect Eid dress and wrapping up groceries for the weekend.

Taking advantage of the occasion and people’s situation, the shopkeepers have increased the prices of all the products.

With prices now sky high, the shopkeepers make sure that the market is open till 3:00 am in the morning so they can reap the benefits, and despite the fact that the prices have increased, the traffic on the streets hasn’t cooled down. Eid shoppers are still out in the markets, shopping as much as they can and buying a kurta worth Rs 5000, which during normal days would cost Rs 2500, half the price.

Pakistan Today approached these shoppers to ask how the hike in prices had affected them.

Fatima, a graphic designer said, “The concept of increasing prices during Eid is ridiculous. It happens in the last few days. I got a suit for my mother from Bareeze a week back for Rs 5,000. I told my mother it can be replaced if she did not like it; when she went to do so, the suit was priced Rs 8,000 and she was not allowed to change it.”

Ayesha Khan, another frustrated shopper in Liberty Market, sarcastically said that because of this increase in prices, the only option people have is to shop for Eid after Eid and tell our kids to wear the Eid dresses for next Eid.

“Other countries/non-Muslim countries reduce prices on products in respect of the holy month and religious festivals, whereas in our country the opposite happens,” said Fareeha, a teacher while talking to Pakistan Today.

She also said, “If the prices do not spike, the shopkeepers create artificial shortage and store the products for later or sell it at triple price.”

Not only that, most families shop around a budget, but problems like these create a dilemma for such families.

Sehar, a housewife said, “My husband and I shop around a set budget during Eid. The price hike creates a dilemma for us because we don’t know whether to look for clothes or for shoes.”

“Living in a country where clothes and shoes are given such importance, increasing prices right before Eid, when people get time to shop is difficult and unfair,” she added.

Eid, an occasion where people give and receive gifts/Eidi to loved ones and to the under privileged, has become a commercial occasion where it is all about increasing prices and ripping people off, right before the auspicious event.

Faiza, another shopper while talking to Pakistan Today, said, “Despite the increase in prices, a layman has no other option, especially when they are out shopping just a few days before Eid. Not only that, the gifts given during Eid to maids, drivers and loved ones gets affected because they expect us to give the gifts, but if we can’t afford it or don’t have enough budget left, what are they going to get.”

“Then again, because it’s Eid we buy the gifts, despite the budgetary problems. We need all the blessings we can get from the under-priviledged,” she added.

Kanwal, an assistant to a fashion designer, said that “the lower class would still get what they expect from middle class people during Eid. It’s people like us who get affected during this time because we have to spend no matter what”.

When Pakistan Today asked Abdul Rafay, a husband/father who was out with his family shopping at Khaadi for his opinion, he replied, “The crowd is out of control. It is crazy out here. The idea to get the last piece of an article at triple the price is beyond my understanding.”

“It does affect my wallet negatively,” he added in a light mood.

Ismail, who was out with his sisters, said, “One can get the same thing from Kareem Block Market for Rs 200, why waste Rs 6,000 on a kurta here, when one can buy food with it for three weeks.”

“To avoid the idea of wasting Ramzan for what it actually means ladies should shop beforehand. Not only that, but knowing that we live in a country where price hikes are inevitable during such occasions, it is dim-witted if you wait for the last few days to shop,” he added.

“This year should be a lesson so from next year onwards, people don’t fall victims of these price hikes. Keep in mind to shop beforehand!” he said.