Id is just a few days away. But the threat of terrorism hasn’t deterred the spirit of shoppers. In markets, the customers are seen swarming the shops and special stalls for being installed for shoppers to prepare for festivites.
The police patrolling all the markets does not allow two or more people to assemble outside malls unless they are shopping or walking. Those even coming out of the shops with friends to smoke a cigarette are literally whisked away.
“We have been asked not to allow any group of men to stand outside the shopping malls. There is a big threat of terrorism these days,” a police official told this newspaper.
“We are not stopping them from shopping but can’t allow two or more people to gather for more than a few minutes,” added the official.
The upper class prefer shopping in big malls in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and other cities while the lower middle class turns to smaller markets where they can find something cheaper and possibly join the rich in celebrating the festival in the first week of September.
“Id means happiness, and we have reasons to shop. More than terrorism we are hit by inflation,” a female shopper said. Another woman said, “We are scared of coming out of our homes due to daily terrorism but Id comes only once a year so we can’t help but shop.” As Id nears, night shopping gains momentum with an increasing number of people visiting various markets to buy clothes and other items for the festival. Shops decorated with multi-coloured lights attract people looking for items, ranging from clothes to footwear.
Taking advantage of an increased demand of clothes and accessories for Id, shopkeepers sell items at inflated rates. Be it children garments or bangles, henna or other items — prices of all products have soared considerably. Undeterr-ed by skyrocketing prices, consumers head to markets in large numbers. Stalls selling jewellery and henna are doing roaring business.
There is one more thing to Id shopping — pickpocketing. Well this “business” peaks in the last 10 days of Ramzan.
“The pickpockets take advantage of big crowds. Pickpocketing is also very common during Id when people are out in large numbers in mosques, markets and parks,” a police official said.