KARACHI: Of course, there were innumerable trips to the shopping centres throughout Ramazan but the last couple of days of the holy month are when Eid shopping reaches its peak.

As soon as the iftarsiren goes off, mothers drag fathers out of the house for shopping, otherwise “there will be a problem finding car parking”. This is also the reason why shopping malls with valet service are everyone’s favourite haunt these days.

Still, some areas around other popular shopping centres where the traffic can get too chaotic causing severe congestion at this time of year have been turned into semi-pedestrian zones where public transport is not allowed to drive through like near Zainab Market in Saddar, where rickshaws can be spotted lined up in front of the Trinity Church boundary wall, which is as far as they are allowed, and the service road in front of Gold Mark I and II shopping centres on main Korangi Road in Defence Housing Authority’s Phase-I extension.

The good thing also about the shopping malls is that they are air-conditioned, something very welcome in this hot and humid Karachi weather. Then the protesting husbands, with groaning tummies after not having allowed to indulge themselves at iftar, can always head up to the food courts in these malls. Their better halves themselves don’t mind having them out of the way, too.

“If he wants to go to the food court, it is fine by me. But I do send one or two of the kids with him so that they can keep track on him for me, not letting him wander too far away in case I need extra cash,” said one housewife checking out the boutiques at Ocean Mall in Clifton for herself and her oldest teenage daughter as she deliberately let the husband escape with their two sons. “I know their sizes like the back of my hand. They may go, for now” she said and smiled.

Some malls have set up mini Meena Bazaars wherever they can find enough room with kiosks full of pretty imitation jewellery and reasonably-priced dresses for men, women and children hanging from the rail racks. Having ‘All under one roof’ is what made such places so popular in the first place.

Still, the shopping centres in Hyderi and Tariq Road are also not that far behind as are the Meena Bazaar in Karimabad, Gulf Shopping Centre at Clifton’s Teen Talwar, Zainab Market in Saddar and Jama Cloth Market near Eid Gah on M.A. Jinnah Road also haven’t lost their charm. They are also where the women bargain till the shopkeepers start weeping. Some things such as shiny hair clips, traditional khussa or Saleem Shahi chappals, gota-kinari, lace, embroideries to die for are also easily available in these shopping centres.

Most garment shops have put up big signs of ‘50% off’ to beckon you from afar. Look closely, they are actually ‘Up to 50% off’. Reality hits you the moment you enter and find some item that is only 5pc off and another 10pc or 15pc off only. There is hardly anything in there that is actually 50pc off except for that reject pile of grey, mustard or dirty green T-shirts or jeans with their inside labels cut into half!

New footwear is as important as new clothes during Eid time. Actually, it is something which takes more time when you have children. “She is choosy as it is and if she does like something, it is not available in her size,” said a mother helping her 11-year-old daughter select sandals in a footwear shop on Monday. The two ended up coming out of there with earrings and clips instead! The man at the counter smiled as they paid for their purchases. “I’m just glad that we also offer other things besides footwear,” he beamed.

If you are not into ready-made stuff or haute couture, chances are you are still making the rounds of tailoring shops. However sensible you might have been about going to them early, you could be making return visits for alterations, etc. And if you are really unlucky to have a real loser for your tailor, he may still be sitting on your work. All is fair on chand raat. Then it will be do or die, so do try and control that temper until then.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2016