GILGIT, Aug 25: The markets here are bustling with Eid shoppers despite rising inflation and dwindling economic condition of the people.

Talking to this correspondent on Thursday traders in NLI Shopping Centre, Madina Market, Col Hassan Shopping Centre and other markets in the city expressed satisfaction over the increased sales.

Businessmen in shopping malls and small vendors at footpaths said hustle and bustle was because of improved law and order situation providing them an opportunity to do brisk business in a secured environment.

Policemen have been deployed at different strategic city points and market places to keep an eye on any suspected element.

Traders hoped that volume of their sales this year would be higher than previous years thanks to better security situation leading to better business. They expected bumper sales in the last two days of Ramazan.

Female shoppers also felt secured and encouraged by the improved law and order situation to go to markets to buy clothes particularly for their children.

Traffic police were also seen struggling to tackle the situation at the busy points with traffic department saying the Gilgit city had been witnessing heavy traffic congestion from 15 Ramazan at the main shopping centres.

PROTEST: Journalists on Thursday took to the streets to protest against attack on office of a local daily by the PPP workers. The management of the newspaper has accused the chief minister of plotting the attack.

Gilgit Press Club and Gilgit Union of Journalists organised the protest demonstration and took out a rally from Gilgit press club to the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly where the media men staged a sit-in.

The participants were carrying placards inscribed with slogans vowing to fight against all those forces who wanted to silence the vibrant and independent media.

The journalists said the 'tyrannical' attitude of Gilgit-Baltistan government could not silence the media which will continue to play its due role.

The protesters kept the road outside the assembly blocked for hours. Later Speaker Wazir Baig called them in his chamber and assured them that the culprits would be taken to task. Similar protests were held across the region to denounce the attack.