Eid shopping gaining momentum in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Eid shopping is picking-up momentum in city with each passing day as heavy rush of buyers are being witnessed in almost all markets and shopping arcades of the provincial capital that continued till late night.

Most of the shopping markets have been artistically decorated and illuminated with colorful lights and buntings to attract buyers especially during night.

Bulk of the shopping centers and fashionable markets have been flooded with domestic and foreign goods as shopkeepers have displayed varieties of ready-made garments, cloths, suits, shoes, cosmetics, eye-catching jewelry and quality three-piece- suits for youth that were rarely seen in the past in the lucrative markets of Peshawar.

According to survey conducted by this scribe on Sunday, most of the
ladies and kids love to buy imported 'saree', short-kameez, lehnga, woolens knitwears, knitted garments and ornaments. These dresses are mostly imported from Dubai, Singapore, China and Thailand as Eid special offers.

Scores of shopping arcades such as Hayatabad shopping mall, Shafi market, Tippu Sulthan, Peshawar Trade Centre (PTC), Deans Trade Centre in cantonment, Shaheen Meena bazaar and Karimpura bazaars in city and CT Tower on the University road are stuffed with variety of cloths as buyers are trying to search appropriate item for themselves and for their families to celebrate Eidul Fitr in a befitting manner.

"The fervor of Eid shopping is gradually picking up as majority of buyers are coming for shopping while few will probably visit on Chand Raat," Daud Khan a shopkeeper in Hasnagri told APP.

Most of the buyers nowadays just entered his shop, ask about prices and then returned empty handed. The customers who are demanding quality products have to pay more for it, he remarked. "These days, people are taking interest in buying sweets especially of Mardani Peera, Pakora and special Halwas," Muhammad Shahjehan alias Shahjee, owner of Punjabi sweets said.

Customers, however, are not happy with the shooting prices of the
imported items like Sohaji Saree, Bezoo woolens, Akthar Jamawar and wallet shaal that are being sold at range prices of about Rs.2000, Rs.1500, Rs.900 and Rs. 1400 respectively which are beyond purchasing power of the middle class.

A short kameez was priced at Rs. 2000 this year, as it was available on
Rs. 1500 last year. Similarly, the prices of the ready made garments of the children and girls' are high enough that leaves the middle income group gossiping.

"I purchased ready made Shalawar Kameez for myself as I can't afford increasing stitching rates this year" Misal Khan, a retired government official told APP. He said this time the prices of ready made cloths are high and are being sold at Rs. 2000 per suit. The City markets and shopping stores are stuffed with internationally famous brands of cosmetics. (APP)