Eid shopping at its peak despite soaring prices

Eid shopping has reached its zenith in this provincial capital city where markets are seen packed with the shoppers who are preparing to celebrate Eidul Fitr in a befitting manner. As drizzle has turned the weather pleasant encouraging people including female, children and families to complete their Eid related shopping. Boutiques and arcades at Meena Bazaar, Shaheen Bazaar, Kochi Bazaar, CT Tower, Shafi Markets, Qissa Khwani Bazaar and Arbab Road, University Road and others are bustling with activity.
Men, women, boys and girls are seen buying readymade dresses, cosmetics, artificial jewellery, shoes, and sweets and nimco for the special day. A huge rush of tribal people flanked by their children is also seen in the shops of readymade garments/clothes, hosiery, shoes and cosmetics etc. Shopkeepers have decorated their stalls to attract customers. To attract potential customers shopkeepers meticulously decorate their shops with new dresses and beautiful attires, as well.
Although weather remained hot, buyers preferred visiting shops on day time as the bazaar remains closed at the evening time due to security reasons. However, the price-hike has put a damper on Eid shopping as buyers and sellers were seen arguing over the rates of attires and footwear.
Talking to the Business Recorder, many low-income group shoppers stated that sellers had increased the prices of all kinds of garments, cosmetics and shoes to make more profit. But their income has not increased in proportion with the increase in the prices of garments, cosmetics and other items they need on the Eid festival, they said.
"I came to bazaar for shopping, but everything costs higher in comparison to last year's Eid-ul-Fitr festival. I cannot afford to buy new clothes and shoes for my children," Zara Batool, 35, a resident of Peshawar said.
It was noticed that the prices of all kind of stuffs, particularly readymade garments, shoes, and other traditional outfits, have registered an increase of 70 to 80 percent as compared to last year. An ordinary readymade children suit is being sold at Rs 1500, which was sold at Rs 700 to Rs 900 before the holy month of Ramazan.
Similarly, the lady footwear and shoes prices also increased manifold as low quality stuff was available not less than Rs 600-700, and Rs 1000-1,500, which is beyond the purchasing power of a large number of customers. The women shoppers while sharing their bitter experience of last year said these shopkeepers usually tripled the prices of all range of stuff in last 10 days of the holy month, especially when it reached its climax at moon-sighting night.
The young girls are relatively losing interest in shopping now as compared to past four or five years. They said shopkeepers have marred their delight on this biggest religious festival. Haris Khan who runs a shoe and garments shop in Meena Bazaar said that price hike was main problem because the people could not purchase costly items. This time, he said, rates of the children's readymade garments had been increased at least by Rs 150 and customers avoid asking about any item.
Murad Akram, another vendor selling bangles said, usually the Eid shopping peaked after 15th of Ramazan but this year the sale was very slow. He said price of every pair of bangles has soared by Rs 20-30, but even then, women were evincing interest in the purchase. The main problems being faced by people are price hike and load-shedding," Sajid Khan, a young salesman at Saddar Bazaar, said on Saturday. Similarly, a jeweller Shahid Khan said, rate of every item of the jewellery has soared. However, he said people like Indian jewellery.