Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party workers in the city were delighted on Sunday morning on receiving post-cards wishing them a happy Eid from their party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The tradition of sending postcards with Eid wishes to party workers was put in place by former PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto. This Eid, Bilawal Bhutto revived the tradition of her mother by ordering custom-made postcards to be delivered to party workers across the country. The card sent on behalf of Bilawal and PPP-Parliamentarians president Asif Ali Zardari had a photo of former chairperson Benazir Bhutto alongside an Eid greeting. None of the other mainstream political parties posted Eid cards to their workers. The tradition of Eid postcards has seen a downward trend with the surge in internet and cell phone use as well as social media in the country over the last two decades. Most people now use these devices and platforms to send e-cards and wishes to their loved ones. When the tradition used to be popular, shopkeepers were seen setting up stalls in major city markets decorated with cards of different varieties including those equipped with battery-powered speakers to play music as the card was opened.

Published in Daily Times, June 26th, 2017.