RAWALPINDI:
With payment of salaries to employees of public and private institutions from Monday, March 16, Eidul Fitr shopping has picked up pace across Rawalpindi.
Markets, commercial centers and shopping plazas have become lively and shopkeepers have also expressed happiness over the start of shopping activity.
Families have started visiting markets in large numbers. After receiving their salaries on Monday, many families – including women and children – went to markets to buy Eid clothes for children.
For the past ten days, the markets have been open late into the night, but the customers were relatively few. However, after the salaries were paid, purchasing activity has increased.
With only four days left for Eidul Fitr, the crowds at the markets are expected to grow steadily every day. Top shopping is expected at Chand Raat.
This year, Chand Raat is expected to fall on two nights – Thursday (29th Ramadan) and Friday (30th Ramadan). Shopkeepers plan to keep their shops open continuously for 33 hours, from 10 a.m. to 7.00 the following morning.
Due to an increase in oil prices, the prices of clothes and shoes have increased more than usual this year. Major clothing and footwear chains have experienced lower sales compared to last year due to inflation.
Many retailers have launched “consignment sales” that offer clothes and shoes that have not been sold from previous seasons at discounts of 25 to 30 percent. As a result, these sales sections have attracted larger audiences.
Instead of large shoe stores, many citizens have preferred to buy from stalls run by Pathan vendors in markets.
At these stalls, children’s and women’s shoes are sold for Rs1,500 to Rs2,000, while men’s shoes are available for Rs2,000 to Rs2,500.
Government employees said that earlier in Ramadan, most spending was focused on daily iftar expenses, but now after receiving salaries, they have started Eid shopping.
Muhammad Ali and Feroz Hassan said they did not compromise on children’s Eid shopping. “Kids insist on buying two or three suits each, while we adults settle for just one suit and opt for cheaper slippers instead of expensive shoes,” they said.
They added that the monthly expenses still need to be managed after Eid because the next salary will be received after 44 days, on April 30.
