Shopping a challenge for middle, lower class
Many are forced to eat into their savings or go for borrowing to finance their Eid-related shopping bills.
The official inflation is touching an all-time high of over 25 per cent, and some private economists say it is even more than 30 per cent.
The rich with bulging pockets are out on a shopping spree in the posh shopping malls in Karachi.
“The inflation has already made it very difficult to foot the monthly food, utility, school/college and health bills leaving no space for meeting Eid-related additional expenditures,” said Zahir Uddin, a grade-16 KWSB employee, sole bread earner of his seven-member family.
“For coming Eid, I have no money to buy suits and shoes for my children and they will have to wear the old ones,” he moaned. Elaborating his tight-economic situation, he said that the increase in gas and electricity tariffs besides unchecked increase in food prices particularly in milk, ghee and chicken etc., had made it impossible to maintain a decent living in limited income and he had to compromise on quality just to keep the kitchen working.
Without a matching increase in salaries, there is no way for people like him to save after making both ends meet for spending on such occasions or fulfill the wishes of children.
The hustle and bustle in the markets, which are heavily illuminated and powered through illegal or kunda connections, during the last 10 days of Ramazan is a usual scene in the city of about 20 million.
“The market does not reflect the real picture of buying power of majority of this city as in these days heavy marriage-related buying is being made by families for the marriage season which kicks off after the third day of Eidul Fitr,” argues a lecturer at a government college, Shan-e-Haider, rejecting a general view that rush in markets is any kind of benchmark for economic well-being.
He said definitely he had to limit his Eid-related expenditures though he had great desire to spend more for his family members but the shrinking buying power due to inflation and nominal increase in salaries had barred him to enter branded shops and had to procure ordinary dresses and shoes for him.
Mr Asif Ali, officer in a private firm, said he did not feel any dearness and he never worried on this count and spend how much he would like to on the occasion of Eid as he had been drawing handsome salary in addition to Eid bonus from the company.However, he felt pity for those who could not able to even to buy low-quality dresses for their children.
Professionals in big multinational, corporate firms, media industry, pharmaceuticals etc., are spending more on this Eid after getting handsome increments.
Mubashir Ali Naqvi, a lecturer, said he had to eat into his savings since the had not been getting salary for the last two months like hundred of others in Sindh, and added that this Eid would be gloomiest for him after coming into practical life in term of monetary aspect.
He said he had to resort to dissaving for procuring dresses, sandals, bags, and other articles for his wife to celebrate her first Eid with him. However, he hastened to add that he didn’t buy any new one and would wear the shalwar kameez gifted by his in-laws on the occasion of his marriage few months back.
Mr Tasneem, a real-estate broker, said due to law and order situation the property business had come to a standstill and he had to rely on borrowing to run his kitchen of six-member family in such circumstances I could not even thought for Eid shopping.
Mr Farooq, who hails from Kashmir and works in a famous restaurant in Saddar area, said that he had been earning Rs2,400 per month and after adding tips the amount came to around Rs4,000 and in this meagre salary, he could not afford the luxury of buying anything to celebrate Eid as he had to send money to his four-member family in Kashmir as well.