Daily Times

LAHORE: Intense bargaining was witnessed between customers and shopkeepers on Monday, as citizens across the city remained busy in shopping ahead of Eidul Fitr, Daily Times observed.

Markets, bazaars and shopping malls of the metropolis were fully crammed with consumers who remained busy bargaining with shopkeepers for purchasing their dresses, jewellery, clutch bags, shoes, henna, bangles and other items to complete their look on the auspicious occasion.

A rush of women and children was observed till late at Liberty Market, Anarkali, Raja Market, Icchra, Saddar bazaar, Moon Market, Yateem Khana, Township bazaar, PIA Road and DHA, while men on the occasion turned to MM Alam Road, Kareem Market and Panorama to buy cloths and other essential items for Eid.

Several renowned brands of cloths, shoes and jewellery offered up to 25-50% discount on their entire Eid collection. A large number of youngsters, upon learning about the sale, thronged to the shops and purchased their desired items.

Meanwhile, encroachments in different markets were also observed by this scribe, which remained a grave issue and caused traffic hurdles in the markets as well as surrounding areas of the shopping points. Small shopkeepers and hawkers had set up their stalls outside the shops and roads, causing trouble not only for the commuters, but also for pedestrians.

Hafiza Iqra, a shopper, while talking to Daily Times, said that she came for purchasing shoes and jewellery but prices of goods were too high for her likings. She said, “The government should provide maximum relief to the nation by announcing approximately 40% reduction in the prices of good at least on special occasions like Eid.”

Muhammad Awais, a shop owner, told this scribe that the rush of people gradually increased after Ramazan 15, but his business reached the peak only in the last week before Eid. On a query, he said that that most women and girls liked unstitched fabric, which they purchased before Ramazan and stitched as per their own requirements. However, he added, parents mostly preferred readymade garments for their children. “Following the budget 2016-17, traders are forced to sale the items on high rate due to increased prices in the wholesale markets,” he added.