HARIPUR, Feb 19: Despite the fact that Eidul Azha is just a few days away, shopping for the festival which normally reaches its climax by that time has failed to gain momentum so far due to price hike.

“It now looks a story of fair weather when people belonging to every class, age and sex seen making a beeline to the city markets for the last-minutes shopping on the rates considerably within their reach,” recalled Waheed Rabbani, a local shoe shop owner.

Rabbani held the government responsible for letting the gap widen between the rich and the poor. A slump in the business could justifiably be attributed to the purchase of sacrificial animals as it is difficult for an average family to arrange money for Eid shopping within three months of Eidul Fitr.

It is a fact that salaried class is unable to bear the burden of Eid shopping twice within three months after Eidul Fitr.

“How can I purchase my family new clothes, shoes and other accessories when I had to contribute Rs2,000 as share for sacrificial animal,” said Shaukat Sultan, a government employee, adding that when he bought new clothes and shoes for his children on Eidul Fitr he made them promise that they would not ask for new clothes on Eidul Azha.

However, it seemed that parents particularly women who could not please their children on Eidul Fitr, had adopted a novel way to pacify their children by opting to go for fake (No.2) items in the market.

Although shopping for these items, particularly on such occasions has never been a new phenomenon for womenfolk, it is observed that more and more women are going for low-quality and sub-standard products this time.

The reason for their inclination towards these items is very much clear that they could not afford a high standard costly item owing to financial constraints.

“How can I afford new clothes, sweaters, shoes and other accessories for a family of five when I am drawing only Rs3,000 as salary,” said Riaz, another government employee.

Although the ever-expanding business of low-quality products, such as hosiery, fabrics, garments and make-up items, is considered as a serious threat by the businessmen to their trade, the sale of fake No.2 items is considered a blessing in disguise for the salaried class.

“We could only see all those costly items put on sale at the city’s posh shops from a distance but cannot even think of entering these shops,” said an elderly woman roaming around the sale points of shoes of low-quality but trendy designs.

It is observed that the stalls where the low-income group can find some thing for their family members are offering a variety of items including new design shoes for both sexes and age; bangles, ready-made garments and make-up items at affordable prices.

A pair of shoes for women is available at these outlets at a price 40-60 per cent less as against those available at posh shopping centres.

Shoes, pumpy, double sole and pencil heel sandals can be bought for a price which is 50 per cent lower than that of city shops. Same is the case with men’s wares and children.

In the market of warm clothes, it has been noted that an unstitched suit of warm fabric is available at Rs250 to Rs300 while the same brand is being sold for Rs400 to Rs700 by the big shopkeepers. Similarly, a big difference in prices of various varieties of warm fabrics both for male and female, make-up items, is witnessed at the city shops and these stalls.