KHAR: Eid shopping has picked up momentum in various areas of Bajaur Agency and bazaars here are witnessing a great rush of shoppers.

During a visit to Khar, the headquarters of the tribal agency, this correspondent observed that people were busy buying different items for Eid as the tribesmen were set to celebrate Eidul Fitr with Saudi Arabia, most likely on Monday, July 29.

The tribesmen said that due to the poor law and order situation and uncertainty in the area they had delayed shopping to the last days of Ramazan. However, the people were happy over a relative peace and to be in the Khar bazaar for shopping.

They said that the shopping gained momentum on Saturday as the administration took necessary security measures and deployed more personnel of Levies force in Khar and other trade centres.

People visiting different bazaars and trade centres expressed disappointment over the price hike, saying that the authorities should have taken steps to curb inflation. They said that the prices of fruits, biscuits, sweets, shoes and several other food and non-food items had increased by up to 40 per cent during the last three days.

“I came here to Khar bazaar to buy sweets and biscuits for Eid, but I was surprised to see that the shopkeepers have increased prices of sweets and other bakery items by 40 per cent,” said Nasir Khan, a resident of Jar.

Meanwhile, hundreds of additional personnel of Levies and security forces have been deployed at various bazaars and trade centres across the agency to provide security to the people.

Officials of the administration told Dawn here on Saturday that the authorities had beeped up security in Khar to thwart militant activities in the region during Eid days. They said that hundreds of additional personnel of Levies force and Frontier Corps had been deployed across the agency.

They said that the step was taken after a meeting of the senior officials here on Saturday with political agent Abdul Jabar Shah in the chair. They said that senior officials of the administration, Bajaur Levies and law enforcement agencies attended the meeting.

The participants discussed security arrangements for public places ahead of Eidul Fitr. The officials of law enforcement agencies briefed the participants about the law and order situation in the agency, security of bazaars and other public places and threats of militant activities in the agency. They said that they had received credible information about possibility of terror attacks in bazaars and public places.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2014