Eid shopping spree gaining momentum in Peshawar

As Eid-ul-Fitr is just around the-corner, shopping has gained momentum in provincial capital Peshawar amid huge supply of consumer goods and buying spree among the people. With only week left for the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the bigger religious festivals of the Muslims, huge rush was seen at different installs of jewelry, bangles, henna set up in city bazaars amid supply of consumers goods in market. These preparations will typically reach their crescendo on 'Chand Raat.'
Armed policemen deputed to ensure hassle-free shopping in all city's bazaars, markets and shopping centres. Throughout the city, stalls have sprung up, selling cosmetics, earrings, clothes, bangles and mehndi. Most the bazaars have been decorated with festive lights. On the other hand, owners of shoe stores, children garments shops, boutiques and other readymade garments have increased prices and are overcharging the consumers.
All the city markets are seen busy now to sell their commodities to the shoppers. The costumers' spree is likely to continue till the last day of the holy Ramazan. With the rise of numbers of buyers, traffic jam in the city's busy market places, roadside makeshift markets and intersections, particularly in front of shopping centres have become acute.
The volume of transactions is relatively higher this year as the city's meena bazaar, shaheen, Qissa Khawani, sadder bazaar, university town, and Hayatabad and different shopping houses were humming with unusual shopping crowd. Shoppers are also frequenting readymade garment and locally made cloth shops.
Buyers complained the prices of garments, footwear, cosmetic, jewelry and others items sky-high in the local markets, which have dampened their Eid festivity.
Whereas shopkeepers are unhappy due to low sale and the profit being earned from the purchasers but they expressed the hope that business activities will pick during last days of Ramazan and Chand raat.
Retail prices of children, men's and women stuffs have almost gone up by 50 to 70 per cent this year than the previous year, especially prices of different varieties of clothes, like cotton, silk and synthetic have registered sharp rise although the shops are almost full of variety.