Overview
- Rawalpindi retailers report a clear pickup in buying after March 16 salary disbursements, with shops preparing for extended Chand Raat hours up to a planned 33‑hour stretch.
- Inflation and higher fuel costs are curbing discretionary spending, pushing families toward used‑clothing stalls, discounted 'lot sales' of past‑season stock, and cheaper footwear options.
- Peshawar’s shopping districts are experiencing acute parking shortages and traffic gridlock, prompting calls for action from the district administration, the Peshawar Development Authority and traffic police.
- Consumer complaints over online Eid purchases include wrong or delayed parcels, sizing and quality issues and fraud, with recourse noted under the Punjab Consumer Protection Act and PECA enforced by the FIA Cybercrime Wing.
- Srinagar and other Valley markets are bustling, while shop owners cite pressure from e‑commerce, social‑media sellers and cloud kitchens in an Eid economy estimated at ₹1,500 crore.