KHAR/SWABI/KOHAT: Amid complaints of high prices, the Eid shopping has gained momentum in major trade centres and markets.

Great hustle and bustle has been witnessed in the major trade centres and bazaars, including Khar, the agency headquarters, as the Eidul Fitr approaches. However, shoppers complained that there had been 40 per cent increase in the prices.

The markets remained opened on Friday, which is a market holiday in the tribal agency. The residents attributed the pickup in the shopping to the pleasant weather during the past few days.

Asad Khan, a resident of Khar town, said recent rains had brought down the temperatures, enabling the shoppers to throng the markets as it was troublesome to come out in the scorching heat while fasting.

The people also expressed satisfaction over the improved law and order in the agency.

This year, we have no concern with the law and order and are shopping with peace of mind,” Khalid Khan of Sadiqabad said.

However, it was observed that no proper security measures have been taken to thwart any unpleasant situation in the bazaars. The number of Levies personnel deployed is insufficient. The rush in markets has also led to choked roads.

The consumers said prices of sweets, dry fruits, fruits, juices, cold drinks and chicken had been jacked up by 40 per cent.

In Swabi, Eid shopping has also picked pace as markets and bazaars were thronged on Friday.

As the Eid draws near, people belonging to all sections of society, especially women, have shown great enthusiasm in shopping while giving final touches to their Eid preparations.

The customers said in major cities preparations for Eid always reached to their peak on the ‘Chand Raat’ but in Swabi people preferred to complete all requirements well before that night.

In famous Link Road markets, district headquarters and in Topi Meena Bazaar and Raja Bazaar, it was difficult to get a foothold due to great rush of shoppers.

“The women shoppers have outnumbered the men in the main markets,” Mohammad Shafiq, a shopper in the Link Road Bazaar, said. As the tailors had refused accepting fresh orders, there is rush to buy readymade garments for children, he added.

A woman who wanted to buy clothes for her two children, told Dawn: “Instead of begging tailors we decided to buy readymade garments for our children.”

However, the customers complained that the shopkeepers were overcharging them.

A girl suit which was sold at Rs2,000 last year was selling at Rs3,000, this year.

In Kohat, district police officer Javed Iqbal has banned entry of men in the women’s Miankhel Bazaar and enforced a strict traffic strategy for convenience of visitors and business community as part of Eid security plan.

A police spokesman in a press statement on Friday said comprehensive security plan had been devised for bazaars and regulating vehicular traffic. Under the plan, the entry of male members of the families had been stopped in the Miankhel Bazaar.

Similarly, the entry of vehicles has also been banned in all the bazaars to facilitate the shoppers.

The administration has reserved old cattle market, Flex cinema, old bus stand and Kohat Kachehry for parking of vehicles coming into the city from villages.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2017