MINGORA, Aug 6: Narrow streets and lack of proper parking facility near Cheena markets here have been causing difficulties to shoppers, especially women.

A great rush of shoppers is being witnessed these days at the markets as Eidul Fitr is just round the corner. Traders and customers say that Cheena markets have a variety of readymade garments, shoes, cloth, cosmetics and other necessary items.

The Taliban had forbidden women from visiting these markets in 2008 and 2009, but now business activities in various markets of Cheena are back to normal.

“I have come with my family to buy shoes and cosmetics for Eidul Fitr. Almost all necessary items are available at Cheena markets,” said a customer Nawab Khan.

Mohammad Alam, a labourer from far-off Jambeel area, said that prices of shoes and readymade garments were very high and he could not afford to buy them for his children and other family members.

Cheena Markets Association president Arshad Khan told Dawn that last year their business was much better than the current season.

He said that most of costumers then were from rural areas of Kabal tehsil and Matta, who had now been avoiding coming to Mingora, mainly due to price hike and bad condition of roads.

He said that the local administration should ban parking of vehicles in narrow streets of markets to facilitate the pedestrians, especially women.

Other bazaars of Mingora city, including New Road, Green Chowk, Nishat Chowk etc also witnessed costumers rush. Sardar Ali, a trader at Kanju road, said that their sale was less than last year’s and listed price hike and bad weather as the main reasons.

Nazir Mohammad, a salesman, said that prices of various necessary items had gone up due to imposition of taxes by the federal government.