Eid shopping spree reaches to climax in Khyber Pakthunkhwa
PESHAWAR (APP): Eid shopping spree on Tuesday reached its peak in Khyber Pakthunkhwa where a great rush of people was being witnessed in the outlets of readymade garments, bangles, sweets and Peshawari Chappal.
As only a few days left in Eidul Fitr, all the small and major bazaars of Peshawar including Qissa Khawani, Karimpura, Jhangirpura, cantonment, boards and university roads were flooded with Eid shoppers these days. The people were seen busy choosing shoes and garments for themselves and loved ones to look different on Eidul Fitre.
On Tuesday, the readymade garments, bangles and Peshawari chappal outlets attracted a large number of shoppers including youth and girls in the city markets packed with a variety of imported and local garments and shoes as a special Eid package.
The stitched Salwar Kameez, Kurata shirts especially of lawn and cotton prints, varieties of bangles and Peshawari and Carsaadda Chappals have dominated the city’s fashion markets and shopping arcades.
Following prices discounts on most of locally made footwear and stitched clothes in Peshawar as special Eid offer, most of residents of nearby districts including Charsadda, Nowshera, Khyber, Kohat, Swabi, Mohmand and Bajaur districts are visiting Qissa Khwani, Jahangira Mohalla and adjoining cloth markets, garments and shoes shops to buy their favorite lawns and cotton prints, which was hardly seen in the past.
The poor families are taking keen interest in buying stitched Shalwar Kameez and Kurta, cotton and lawn readymade garments besides henna and artificial ornaments. “I liked readymade garments for Eid as it was more affordable than tailored stitched suits,” said Umar Khayam, an employee of Education Department while talking to APP at Mall Road Peshawar.
“I have bought two cotton suits, one each for myself and my brother and would come again on Chand Raat with a hope that prices of shoes and other items would come down,” he said. Zubair Khan, a tailor Latifabad and fashion designers in Jahingirabad, Shafi Market, Cantonment and Hayatabad told APP that the girls and ladies aged 18 to 35 are taking keen interest in Shalwar kameez and Kurta, artificial jewellery and henna on this Eid.
“I hired extra labour working till sehri to fulfill the customers’ placed Eid orders,’’ he said, adding new booking has been closed due to load shedding and huge stock. He said increase of shop’s rents, labour, load shedding and fabrics materials are major reasons behind hike in tailors’ charges, adding one suite was currently being stitched at Rs1500 to Rs2000.
Sajid Khan, a resident of Pabbi told APP that he bought a stitched Shalwar Kameez suit for Eid as it proves economical than tailors made suits,” adding Shalwar Kameez and Kurta, an amalgamation of modernity and traditions, with matching Peshwari Chappal, enhanced one’s look on Eid in this part of the country.
Shalwar Kameez with leather-made Peshawari Chappal had widely been recognized as the symbol of traditions and culture in Pakistan especially in Khyber Pakthunkhwa where majority of people prefer it on Eid and others festivals.
Peshawari Chappal has made deep inroads in Pakhtoon society and is also being used in wedding and engagement ceremonies. “I have purchased eight sets of Peshawari Chappals for myself, friends and relatives to look different on Eid,” he added.
Great rush of girls are being witnessed on henna stalls ahead of Chand Raat at cantonment and city markets. “I came from Nowshera to decorate my hands with a henna expert to avoid rush on Chand Raat at Deans Trade Centre,” Sidra Qaiser (25) told APP.
Shoppers and customers complained about high prices of fabrics and shoes materials, traffic jams and lack of car parking in shopping malls in Peshawar and urged the caretaker government for its immediate solutions to make Eid shopping convenient for people.
“I broke my fast on the road the other day due to a massive traffic jam at Qissa Khwani,” Sajid Ali said.
He said people have to park vehicles in one kilometer distance of shopping areas mostly on the roadside and have to pay a fine in case cars were lifted by traffic police besides being annoyed by the influx of beggars.
The people suggested proper car parking facilities at shopping malls by making it mandatory before issuing of no objection certificates and quick removal of all stuff from footpaths to facilitate Eid shoppers.
They also demanded action against professional and non-professional beggars so that the shopkeepers could complete their shopping with ease in the last days of Ramazan.
