September 29, 2008	Monday	Ramazan 28, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Sept 28: A late buying rush just days ahead of Eidul Fitr reflects that people in the city are undeterred by the security threats and the persistent inflation which wrack the entire country.

Usually bustling areas of Saddar, Commercial Market, Raja Bazaar, Murree Road and Tench Bhatta wore a deserted look in the early days of Ramazan and soon after the horrendous suicide truck bombing of Marriott Hotel in Islamabad last weekend.

Now with just a few days to go before Eid, people have started visiting the shops of their choice to buy clothes, shoes, bangles, Heena, etc., to celebrate the occasion.

The garrison city has been on alert since the September 20 blast in the federal capital, and the recent rumour of a suicide bomber entering the Benazir Bhutto International Airport scared the people briefly.

But the surge in the number of shoppers in the markets, especially after Iftar, has made it clear that nothing can stop them from celebrating whatever festivity they could during these unfortunate times.

Long queues of vehicles and large presence of people in the commercial centres also suggest that people are somehow copping with the price spiral.

Faisal Shami, who works at a private bank in Islamabad and is a witness to the carnage of the Marriott attack, said he had come to the Ghakhar Plaza with his wife and son despite the fear of a possible terrorist strike.“Though the terrorists are hell-bent on creating fear and panic in our country, they cannot be allowed to stop our children from celebrating Eid,” Mr Shami said.

His wife said she seriously felt the death of innocent people in the suicide attacks. “We should not forget them on this auspicious occasion and must try to help the bereaved families return to normal life.”

She hoped that peace would return to the country, as she selected a colourful set of bangles.

Kashif, a government servant who was out with his three children to buy shoes from Commercial Market, said the prices of clothes and shoes had gone very high. But the excuse was not acceptable to the children.

“Life has become difficult after the recent hike in the prices of every item, but one has to celebrate Eid,” said Kashif while his three children enjoyed ice cream.

“We feared slump in our business this Ramazan keeping in view the rate of inflation and scale of destruction at Marriott, but to our surprise we are doing good business for the last three to four days,” said Mazhar, a salesman at a shoe shop in Saddar.

He said though the sale still did not match the expectations, it was very much encouraging. He hoped doing roaring business in the remaining two or three days before Eid.

Meanwhile, on the last Sunday before Eidul Fitr weekly markets in the twin cities witnessed a big crowd, PPI adds.

In Islamabad, unprecedented rush was seen in G-6 bazaar as scores of people bought edible items to prepare food for family gatherings planned for Eid.

A shopper, Amanullah, said the weekly bazaars in the capital attracted large number of people because of quality and affordable rates of daily-use items.

One shopkeeper said the Capital Development Authority (CDA) issued a price list to ensure sale of items at controlled rates, and most of the vendors followed the document.

In Rawalpindi, a similar situation prevailed at weekly bazaars near Nawaz Sharif Park, Committee Chowk, Chungi No. 22, Churr Chowk, Haideri Chowk and Dhoke Kala Khan.

GILGIT: As hardly two or three days are left for Eidul Fitr, residents of Gilgit city and its adjoining areas have started thronging the markets in the town, Dawn’s correspondent reported.

A large number of people have come to Gilgit from Ghizer, Hunza, Chilas and Astore to buy clothes, shoes, sweets and other edible commodities to celebrate the festival.

NLI Market, where mostly Chinese fabrics and shoes are available, is attracting a great crowd.

Shopkeepers here on Sunday said sales usually picked up pace after the 20th Ramazan, while the buyers said the price hike had disheartened them.

ATTOCK: Frenzied shoppers have begun flocking to commercial centres in Attock where arguments over the inflated prices of almost every item have become order of the day, Dawn’s correspondent in the city reported.

Eid shopping is at its peak as great rush is being witnessed in all shopping areas, including Bank Road, Meena Bazaar, Main Bazaar and Imambara Road, and Kamra Market.

The activity will continue till the late hours of Chand Raat.

Apart from clothes, shoes and other accessories; even kitchen items are being sold at exorbitant rates as the retailers want to cash in on the increase in demand just ahead of the festivities.