Pakistan takes Eid break amid rising temperatures

Islamabad: It’s a long 10-day break in Pakistan on account of Eid Al Fitr, a time when the country literally comes to a standstill.

For Pakistanis, though, Eid has always been a festive occasion and people like to celebrate the day with families and friends by hosting and attending parties, get-to-gathers. Yet, in the last two years, due to COVID-19 the religious festival more or less remained an indoor, quiet activity.

In 2020 and 2021, the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC) imposed a number of restrictions prohibiting to a certain level attendance at schools and offices, public gatherings, shopping, travelling and even prayers in mosques and there was little room for celebrations.

However, this year, on March 31, in view of the significant decline in COVID-19 cases, the government announced to dismantle NCOC and allowed the public to return to normal life.

Eid enthusiasm high this year

After significant decline in the coronavirus cases as positivity continues to be under 1 per cent for the last couple of months and no death reported, there is renewed Eid enthusiasm and a marked increase in shopping.

In Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and other cities, markets and shopping malls remain open till late at night as families and friends visit these places after Iftar for shopping.

This is indeed something they had been waiting for and decline in COVID-19 cases has provided them with the long-awaited opportunity.

Rising temperature leads to night shopping

Pakistan is currently in the grip of an unprecedented heat wave and the Meteorological Department has noted temperature rising to 44 Celsius.

This rise in temperature along with fasting during the day has led to shopping at night and the shopkeepers too open their shops a little before Iftar and close them at around Sahoor time.

Women’s Eid

Women and girls can be seen selecting items of their choice not only at small shopping stalls but also at posh markets. They buy various items ranging from clothes to bangles, shoes to make-up (beauty) products.

With Eid Day drawing closer, small, makeshift stalls have popped up in smaller areas and localities attracting the middle class and low-income families. They are offering artificial bangles and jewellery which are immensely popular with young girls.

Even small streets and mohallahs have such makeshift stalls where you can find mehndi (Heena), bangles, small handbags, artificial jewellery and other Eid items.

Marked rise in prices

This year, due to the rise in inflation, people are facing more than 35 per cent price hike for everything. Although prices are much higher, families are making extra efforts to provide funds to their little ones for Eid shopping.

According to shopkeepers, the purchasing power of the citizens has reduced. Those who used to make two or three suits for Eid could afford only one because of inflation.

Three-month remission in sentences

The Federal Government has announced 90-day remission in sentences of prisoners on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr.

The remission in prisoners’ jail terms has been announced under Article 45 of the Presidential powers. The Sindh government has announced six months remission in the sentences. The remission in jail terms will however not apply to the prisoners who have been convicted for kidnapping, murder, anti-state offences and terrorism cases.