Fijan Bibi, 52, a sanitary worker, cleans the floor of shops in the Kohsar Market of Islamabad’s F-6/3 sector almost throughout the year. It is only on the occasion of Christmas that she gets two holidays.

Her husband, who is a night watchman in a house, and son, a barber by profession, will also get the breaks. This will provide the family members, who hardly get time to talk to each other on routine days, to sit together on the religious festival. Fijan Bibi, who lives in the nearby Christian locality, told Dawn that her family had to work round the clock to run their kitchen. She works from early morning till 7pm in the market but still cannot afford to spend some money on Christmas. Therefore, she is doing little preparation to celebrate the event.

“I will not be able to cook good food or get new dress but am happy that my family members will be united after a long time,” she said.

Fijan Bibi is not the only one facing problems due to the price hike and other financial constraints. At the 100 Quarters in F-6/2, there were once 100 houses. However, now the number has reached 650 with the population crossing over 4,000. The residents of the locality are facing the same problems.

Ilyas Masih, who was busy in painting trees on the greenbelt, said he and some other youth of the area had pooled together some money and also collected donations for the Christmas celebrations.

“After finishing the painting work, we will decorate the area on December 24. Those who afford to buy new dresses on the Christmas have already given orders to the tailors,” he said.

In the church of 100 Quarters, a Christmas tree was fixed on December 1. The hall in the church has also been decorated. However, students taking classes on the premises of the church continue their education.

Manzoor Masih, 67, a retired government employee, said he came to Islamabad from Sialkot in 1980 and settled here. Father of two daughters and five sons, Manzoor Masih is now living a retired life. “Christmas is a day of God, so we should celebrate it by cooking good food, wearing new clothes and giving gifts to each other. However, it is now becoming difficult for people to celebrate the event in a befitting manner because of the financial problems,” he said.

“When I was working in the President House, all the Christian employees used to get salary on December 20. Now I am a retired man so cannot get my pension before the religious event,” said Manzoor Masih.

Danish Masih, who puts on Santa Claus dress and distributes gifts among children on every Christmas, said: “In the past, I used to give toys, storybooks and other small gifts to children but now I can afford them only candies.”

He said he had completed his preparation and would present the candies to all the children of the locality. There are 10 houses of Muslim families in the area and they also celebrate the event with us. “We also celebrate the Eid with our Muslim neighbours,” he said.

Rehmat Bibi, an elderly woman, said the most important thing on Christmas day was the Christmas cake. “While I was young, my mother and I used to bake a cake but now most of the people buy them from the market. Baking cakes at home provides you more enjoyment and the feeling that you are celebrating Christmas,” she said.

Haji Jalal, who works in a bookstore at Kohsar Market, added that most of the people bought Christmas trees and balls before the event. “A tree for a room costs around Rs500; however, the prices of trees for backyard or to be fixed in front of a house vary from Rs1,000 to Rs15,000. A large number of people purchase the trees before the event so we do a good business,” he said.

Another trader, Mohammad Imran, said there was a large number of wealthy Muslims who also purchased the Christmas trees.

“The media has also started projecting religious activities of the Christians and Hindus. So nowadays wealthy Muslims may sleep all the day on Eid but cannot miss Christmas and Valentine’s Day,” he said.