Despite load shedding, price hikes and inflation, shopping for Eid is in full swing, with buyers high in spirits purchasing clothes, accessories and gifts in various markets and shopping malls across the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. As soon as mid-Ramadan approaches, people start shopping for various items for Eid, which include apparel, children garments, fashion accessories and a variety of other products.
Most women get busy purchasing items for their family to celebrate Eid in a befitting manner, while children look forward to celebrating the festival in a myriad of colors.
“Due to the price hike, it is difficult to buy every thing one wants, but still people forego affordable items and go for expensive things as Eid-ul-Fitr comes once a year and people celebrate it in a festive mood,” said Ajmal, a shop owner at a local market. Constant load shedding and rising temperatures also create hurdles in shopping during the day and most people prefer to go shopping in the evening, causing markets to get crowded in the late hours, he said.
The trend of arranging special exhibitions for women and children before Eid has increased during the last few years, creating shopping opportunities for buyers and huge revenues for sellers alike.
Several days before Eid, popular and unknown brands set stalls up along corners of markets, while couture and jewelry designers select hotels and art galleries to display their wares for status conscious people.
Besides popular brands, home based workers including females also create paraphernalia for Eid and demonstrate their skills, which not only bring in a respectful earning for them, but also keep them aware of new trends in the market.
Besides displaying typical items catering to women and children, the days leading up to Eid also invite bangles and henna experts on these stalls arranged specifically for females.
“The days after mid Ramadan provide us with the perfect extravaganza at affordable rates at these exhibitions,” said Myra, a visitor at an exhibition.
“Arranging exhibitions are a way of gaining more profit with less investment as rented outlets have become expensive and buyers visit these outlets mostly during the last days of Eid,” a private event management company official said.
