RAWALPINDI, Dec 3: As shopping picks up for the fast approaching Eidul Fitr, a great deal of hustle and bustle is seen in the shopping centres of Rawalpindi city, Cantonment, Chaklala and Gulrez Colony.

Prime time for shopping are afternoons and late nights, after Iftar. During noon, most shoppers are seen in the fruit and vegetable market close to Ganjmandi area.

The market offers a large variety of seasonal fruits including fruiters, apples, pomegranates, water melons and local and imported dates. Also available in downtown bazaars in shops and pushcarts are a variety of seasonal vegetables.

With Eid coming closer, women and girls are seen visiting Bara market for smuggled fabrics from NWFP and Karachi. Another Bazaar which attracts a lot of women is the China Market, which is famous for imported goods brought from China through Karakoram into Pakistan.

China market is also very popular among women in Islamabad as well as those living outside the twin cities. They are mostly interested in material for wedding dresses and evening wears.

Women buy Chinese material for their colour, print and durability.

For children and toddlers, the market is replete with variety of clothes and within affordable price range. Bank Road, leads in this particular product. Recently some shops selling children’s wear have come up in Saddar area.

Newly established shopping centres around Sixth Road segment of Murree Road also offers a wide variety of garments for teenagers and kids at an affordable price. Commercial market in Satellite Town is also another major shopping market for the people living in and around the area.

However, Moti Bazaar continues to be the most popular market centre for women. Though this time, shopping here may not be as interesting as before, due to July floods, which damaged and destroyed a large number of shops.

It is steadily picking up business, because this is one market, where the prices are within reach of all especially the middle class and lower middle class.

Of course the crowded streets and roads makes it difficult to walk without being nudged or pushed by the passerby, most of the time intentionally.

During the last days of pre-Eid shopping, the local administration is forced to ban entry of men in Moti Baser.