ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: Just a day before Eid, demand of flowers, petals and wreaths has increased due to which on Sunday traders who have already stored flowers at cold storages, shifted flowers in the market, Dawn has learnt.

According to a market survey on Sunday, prices of bouquets and flowers were more than double as people had to buy flowers to greet people who were observing Itekaf at different mosques of the city.

Flower shops at I-8, G-9 Markaz and other places were charging around Rs300 for a bouquet, which is usually sold for Rs125 to Rs 150.

Besides, the rate of petals has also increased. Traders have not only reduced the size of packets but they have also doubled the price.

Sheikh Naeem, while talking to Dawn said that his father Sheikh Amin was observing Itekaf at Hasnain Kareemain Mosque, I-10 markaz, so he wanted to buy a bouquet of flowers and petals but rates of flowers doubled.

“Just before start of Ramazan, I bought a flower bouquet for Rs130 and now the same kind of bouquet is available for Rs300. After bargaining, the shopkeeper agreed to sell at Rs250,” he said.

On the other hand, traders who had already stored flower petals and other flower items at cold storages for the last three to four days have started shifting flowers to their shops because flowers are used for Eid celebrations and it is also a tradition to lay flower wreaths at graves on the occasion of Eid.

Malik Nadeem of Chand Sitara Flower Shop, who is a wholesaler, said that he has already given an order of extra flowers and on the other hand retailers have also done advance booking so he was sure that his stock will be sold out.

“Petals kept at cold storages have less fragrance but still people buy them because of huge demand of petals and flower wreaths. At the occasion of Eid, flowers are sold at double the rate because main dealers also charge high prices,” he said.“There are so many people who do business of flower selling on Eid and for that they arrange stalls in graveyards and other locations,” he said.