SWABI, Aug 12: Markets in Swabi district have begun pulling in crowds for Eid shopping as the festival marking the end of the fasting month of Ramazan draws closer.

However, low sales, especially those of readymade garments and shoes, are reported with shoppers blaming it on high prices of goods.

Shopkeepers said they had expected better sales at the start of the month when people drew salary but that expectation turned out to be false.

A Topi Main Market trader told Dawn that like others, he eagerly awaited the days when the people would on the shopping spree.

Former trader leader Ahmad Ali said prices of Eid items had multiplied over a period of time due to high inflation.

He said readymade garments were selling at a price 40 per cent higher than the last year’s.

“People want to make purchases but inflation has hit them so badly that they are selective doing the shopping. In my understanding, prices of Eid-related goods have increased 20 to 25 per cent compared with those of the last year,” he said.

Mr Ahmad said sales of local traders had declined almost 40 per cent but he was hopeful that things would improve near the end of Ramazan.

Taj Mohammad, seller of clothes on Link Road, also expressed the hope of drawing serious buyers in the next few days.

“I am optimistic that people will be on a shopping spree in the next four to five days as Eid gets close at hand,” he said.

He, however, said Eid sales would never be like those seen in previous years due to high inflationary trends.

“Gone are the days when we see a great rush before Eid. Things have undergone a massive change,” he said.

Eid shoppers, mostly women and children, were seen in Swabi Link Road markets, Meena Bazaar and Raja Bazaar in Topi, and markets in Zaida city for clothes, bangles, cosmetics, shoes and henna.